Chloé Zhao's warning: Hollywood's male-dominated model stifling feminine leadership
A recent study may have been a wake-up call for some in the industry, but for Oscar-winning director Chloé Zhao, it was only validation of what she's known all along. Speaking at a Women in Motion talk at the Palm Springs film festival, Zhao made her stance clear: the current Hollywood model is not conducive to fostering gender diversity.
Zhao pointed out that feminine leadership – and by feminine consciousness, she means the ability to draw strength from interdependence, intuition, relationships, community, and collaboration – doesn't fit into the traditional power structure. "It's difficult to come through," she said, "and I feel very lucky that I had people in power who trusted this way of leading is needed for this story."
The data backs her up, though. A recent survey by the USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative found a significant decline in female directors among the top-grossing US films – from 13.4% last year to just 8.1% this year. Even Oscar winners like Zhao are struggling to break down these barriers.
Zhao's own film, Hamnet, is an example of her approach to storytelling. Co-written with Maggie O'Farrell, the poetic exploration of grief won Jessie Buckley a Critics Choice award for her powerful performance as mother Agnes Hathaway. The success of films like Hamnet and others on the list – including Celine Song's Materialists and Nisha Ganatra's Freakier Friday – suggests that there are talented women making waves in the industry, but they're not being given the opportunities to lead.
Stacy L Smith, author of the report, noted that progress for women directors has been fleeting. The decline from last year's figures is attributed to executive decision-making taking place before any diversity and inclusion policies were rolled back under Trump's administration. This suggests that systemic change is needed if women are going to be given a fair shot in the industry.
Zhao's comment on feminine consciousness also raises questions about the role of women in leadership positions. Is it possible that women have different approaches to leadership, one that prioritizes collaboration and community over dominance? The film industry would do well to explore this further, as it could lead to a more inclusive and diverse range of stories being told.
For now, Zhao's success serves as a reminder that there are women making waves in Hollywood who are redefining what it means to be a leader. Her Oscar win last year was historic for its time, but the question remains: will this momentum carry forward, or will the industry continue to struggle with its own biases? Only time will tell.
A recent study may have been a wake-up call for some in the industry, but for Oscar-winning director Chloé Zhao, it was only validation of what she's known all along. Speaking at a Women in Motion talk at the Palm Springs film festival, Zhao made her stance clear: the current Hollywood model is not conducive to fostering gender diversity.
Zhao pointed out that feminine leadership – and by feminine consciousness, she means the ability to draw strength from interdependence, intuition, relationships, community, and collaboration – doesn't fit into the traditional power structure. "It's difficult to come through," she said, "and I feel very lucky that I had people in power who trusted this way of leading is needed for this story."
The data backs her up, though. A recent survey by the USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative found a significant decline in female directors among the top-grossing US films – from 13.4% last year to just 8.1% this year. Even Oscar winners like Zhao are struggling to break down these barriers.
Zhao's own film, Hamnet, is an example of her approach to storytelling. Co-written with Maggie O'Farrell, the poetic exploration of grief won Jessie Buckley a Critics Choice award for her powerful performance as mother Agnes Hathaway. The success of films like Hamnet and others on the list – including Celine Song's Materialists and Nisha Ganatra's Freakier Friday – suggests that there are talented women making waves in the industry, but they're not being given the opportunities to lead.
Stacy L Smith, author of the report, noted that progress for women directors has been fleeting. The decline from last year's figures is attributed to executive decision-making taking place before any diversity and inclusion policies were rolled back under Trump's administration. This suggests that systemic change is needed if women are going to be given a fair shot in the industry.
Zhao's comment on feminine consciousness also raises questions about the role of women in leadership positions. Is it possible that women have different approaches to leadership, one that prioritizes collaboration and community over dominance? The film industry would do well to explore this further, as it could lead to a more inclusive and diverse range of stories being told.
For now, Zhao's success serves as a reminder that there are women making waves in Hollywood who are redefining what it means to be a leader. Her Oscar win last year was historic for its time, but the question remains: will this momentum carry forward, or will the industry continue to struggle with its own biases? Only time will tell.
but at the same time i'm like "wait, isn't that just a nice way of saying that women are more emotional and less aggressive in leadership?" 
i mean, can we not just say that women have different approaches to leadership without implying that one approach is inherently better? 
it's also kinda problematic that zhao says she feels "lucky" to have had people in power who trusted her way of leading... doesn't that imply that most people wouldn't trust feminine consciousness? 
and what about all the other women who are trying to break into the industry? shouldn't they be getting opportunities too? 
Chloé Zhao is literally speaking truth to power here - feminine leadership isn't just a buzzword, it's a way of being that's all about collaboration and community. And honestly, I feel like the film industry would benefit so much from more stories like Hamnet, which shows that vulnerability and emotion can be just as powerful as action-packed blockbusters.
It's like they're forgetting that all of these women are still learning and growing, but at least they're trying 
. The industry needs more than just tokenistic representation; we need systemic change that prioritizes collaboration and community 
. It's not about pitting women against each other or trying to fit them into a predetermined mold 
.
so yeah I think Chloé Zhao's point about feminine consciousness being stifled by traditional power structures is a big one 
. We need systemic change, not just tokenism or empty gestures 
. It's time for the industry to take a hard look at itself and make some real changes 
.
. But on the other hand, what if that's exactly why women are still underrepresented in top-grossing films? Like, maybe women do have a different approach to leadership and it's just not fitting into this traditional power structure 
.
. What's wrong with having differing opinions, right? 
. we need more women in positions of power, esp with policies that support diversity & inclusion 
:
The stats are clear – if you're not a dude in a high-up position, good luck getting your film greenlit with the current system 
. It's time for Hollywood to change its ways, stop relying on the same old traditional power structure 
. What if women leaders prioritized collaboration over dominance?