This year's only female director at the Emmys gets real about sexism in Hollywood
You may not recognize the name Lesli Linka Glatter, but trust us when we say you 100% know her work. From Twin Peaks to The West Wing, Gilmore Girls to The Walking Dead, The Good Wife to Mad Men, she’s got our binge-watching habits *totally* covered. Basically: she’s talented AF.
In a recent chat with Vulture, the ultra accomplished director opened up about why her accomplishments come with a bit of frustration, and the cause? Sexism. Major, major sexism.
"The fact that in 2016 things have hardly changed at all is very distressing," she explained. "[With] the hiring of first-time directors, you would think that if the playing field is completely equal — no one has ever directed, male or female — that the percentages would be more balanced."
When issues of diversity are talked about, many in power are quick to point to excuses like talent, and the pool just happening to be made up of a whole lotta white guys.
But, Lesli says, it has nothing to do with experience.
"The fact that the hiring percentages are similar to those for non-first-time directors, that’s really shocking. You can’t use experience as the excuse."
"And honestly, there are a huge amount of qualified women directors. I hear this all the time, 'Well, there just aren’t enough women directors.' That’s just not true; there are plenty."
At the end of the day, the fact that Lesli Linka Glatter is the only female director at the Emmys is groundbreaking, yes, and incredible, yes, and a testament to her talent, but it’s also a HUGE sign that there is so, so much progress to be done when it comes to the world of all things film. We’re nowhere close to equality, and that’s just not okay.
