Leadership in the margins

Abstract

ABSTRACT This article explores the specific consequences of the male gaze on women in cinema leadership with particular attention on African American female directors. It explores ethics and ethical stance and has uncovered some preliminary conclusions about the standards of social behavior among cinema leadership that negatively interposes on the advancement and success of female directors in cinema, regardless of genre or artistic merit. The #Metoo and #Timesup movements have brought to light many unethical issues related to sexism, gender inequality, and objectification, and the ethical issues explored here pertain primarily to the expectation of autonomy, justice, beneficence, and nonmaleficence. The content analyses exposed themes drawn from interviews and the literature that suggest a tradition of unethical behavior that the Hollywood industry has heretofore ignored at the expense of female industry participants in front of and behind the camera. This behavior has manifested in cultural disparities, objectification, and unethical social behavior, resulting in limited prospects for motion picture directorial leadership for women in cinema, particularly female directors of color.