Superhero movies and TV shows are very popular today. A new study shows something is missing from superhero stories, though. Most popular superheroes are men. The new study says kids want to see more superheroes who are women.
The study was done by two groups. One is the Women's Media Centre. The other is BBC America. The Women's Media Centre is a charity (慈善) group. It fights for fair treatment(待遇) of women in things like TV and movies. BBC America is a TV channel.
More than 2,000 people took part in the study. Some were kids aged from 10 to 19. Others were the parents of younger children.
Not Enough Strong Women Characters
The study shows that most girls feel there are not enough female role models in entertainment (娱乐节目). They think there should be more strong female characters. They want to see superheroes that look like them. Boys answered questions in the study, too. Most agreed with the girls. They want to see more female superheroes, like Wonder Woman.
Julie Burton runs the Women's Media Centre. She said TV and movies had to make changes. They must provide more role models for girls. Female characters should reflect (反映) girls of all different backgrounds, she said. It is important for all to see people who look like them in entertainment.
Helping Girls Feel More Brave and Confident
Burton said seeing strong female characters is important for girls. It helps them build confidence. These characters give girls someone to look up to, she explained. This can inspire girls. It can also help them to feel brave.
Sarah Barnett agrees. She runs BBC America. "If you can't see her, you can't be her," Barnett said.
The study asked girls how they feel when they see powerful female characters on screen. The results were interesting. They showed that seeing female characters has a big effect on girls. Boys like seeing male superheroes on screen. But the study showed the effect on boys was smaller.Maybe that is because seeing male superheroes is pretty common. Female superheroes are rarer. Seeing them is more exciting.
More Women in Entertainment
The report is a part of a new plan at BBC America. It is called Galaxy of Women. The goal is to improve how women are shown in entertainment.
The study came out the day after BBC America started a new season of Doctor Who. It is a popular science fiction show. The doctor is an alien (外星人) who can travel through time and change bodies. Twelve different actors have played the doctor since the show started in 1963. This season. the doctor is a woman, played by Jodie Whittaker. This is the first time the doctor has been played by a woman.
