The Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media, the United States Institute of Peace, Women and Girls Lead and ITVS are leading the discussion on the role media plays in shaping positive and negative gender norms and expectations, which is increasingly critical in conflict-affected and fragile states around the world. The “Second Global Symposium” brought together thought leaders, entertainment executives, business decision makers, scholars, non-governmental organizations and journalists to learn about the findings from a ground-breaking global study on the portrayal of women in film.

The Gender Bias without Borders study investigates 11 countries’ locally produced films including: Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Japan, Russia, South Korea, United Kingdom, and United States. This quantitative study examines a number of key data points particularly representation comparisons, portrayals, attributes, sexuality and careers. Following a presentation of the study findings, two high-level panel discussions focused on the global impact of films on women and girls as well as best practices to drive change.

#GeenaOnGender.

Welcoming Remarks

• Kathleen Kuehnast
  Director, Center for Gender and Peacebuilding, USIP


• Madeline Di Nonno
  Executive Director, Geena Davis Institute for Gender in Media

Keynote Remarks

• Geena Davis
  Founder and Chair, Geena Davis Institute for Gender in Media

Special Remarks

• Stacy Smith
  Associate Professor, USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism

Keynote Remarks

• Patricia de Stacy Harrison
  President and CEO, Corporation for Public Broadcasting

Panel 1: Stories From Around the World: Empowering Women and Girls Through Film

• Abby Disney
  Executive Producer, The Trials of Spring
• Elizabeth Frank
  Chief Content and Programming Officer, AMC Theatres
• Jamie Gordon
  Executive Producer, A Path Appears
• Angela Guy
  Senior Vice President, Diversity and Inclusion, L’Oreal
• Amelia Hanibelsz
  Founder Tell2Productions, Advisory Council Film Aid International
• Carla Koppell
  Chief Strategy Officer, USAID
• Stacy Smith
  Associate Professor, USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism
• Megan Beyer, Moderator
  Founder and Chair, Women Leaders Project

Panel 2: Hollywood’s Impact on Societies in Conflict: Hyper Men and Passive Women on the Big Screen

• Abby Disney
  Executive Producer, The Trials of Spring
• Andrew Levack
  Deputy Director of U.S. Programs, Promundo
• Jill Dougherty
  Public Policy Scholar, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
• Sheldon Himelfarb
  Director, Media, Technology & Peacebuilding, USIP
• Marc Sommers
  Consultant and Visual Researcher, African Studies Center, Boston University
• Kathleen Kuehnast, Moderator
  Director, Center for Gender and Peacebuilding, USIP

Closing Remarks

• Geena Davis
  Founder and Chair, Geena Davis Institute for Gender in Media