Women creators and female characters in Spanish fiction series for streaming platforms: the case of Movistar Plus+ (2017-2024)

Abstract

Streaming platforms has promoted the inclusion of women in production teams and female characters in fiction series in the Spanish audiovisual industry. The aim of this study is to determine the female and feminist presence in the creation, characters, and narratives of series on the Spanish platform Movistar Plus+. First, the number of female creators, the inclusion of women in the directing, scriptwriting, and production teams, and the canon of fiction series are quantified. Next, the content of female characters is analyzed from an intersectional perspective, and finally, the feminist discourse of the plots of these projects is examined using a qualitative approach. The results reveal gender inequality in leadership positions in series creation at Movistar Plus+, normative female characters in terms of sociodemographic and gender characteristics, and plots that revolve around an empowered woman and feminist issues. In conclusion, the glass ceiling for women in the audiovisual sector continues to exist among VoD operators, there is a demand for greater diversity in the construction of female characters, and female creators favor the development of a feminist narrative in Spanish serial fiction.