BREAKTHROUGH FOR WOMEN IN MEDIA: A TIMELINE By Veda Chari
WOMEN BREAK THROUGH THE CENTURIES
Throughout the centuries, women have been under-represented in industries. The many freedoms we take for granted today were privileges few before us enjoyed. In the face of the extreme prejudice towards women, there were leaders who made the first step towards equality, paving the way for future generations. These women throughout history deserve to be recognized.
10th Century: Before the tenth century, women were prohibited from being a part of the theater: all female roles were played by men, and all stories and plays depicted were written by men. Then, in the 10th century, German nun Hrosvitha of Gandersheim wrote a comedy play called Dulcitius. Hrosvitha is credited as the first female playwright and writer. Inspired by her unprecedented move, more women, most of which were noblewomen or nuns, took to writing plays. Their plays were centered around religion and were not intended to be a primary source of income. However, women were still barred for acting in plays and the jobs in the entertainment industry as a whole.
1660: In 1660, King Charles II, an avid theater goer, issued a special charter to the Drury Lane Royal Theater, requiring all female parts to be played by women. This charter allowed Margaret Hughes to step to the stage and become the first female actress with her breakout role as Desdemona in Shakespeare's Othello. Hughes’ performance was the first time a woman acted on an English stage and the first documentation we have of a female playing a role in theater. 1896: With the invention of movies came the first female director. French filmmaker Alice Guy-Blaché wrote and directed “La Fée aux Choux” (The Cabbage Fairy) in 1896, making her the first female director. Guy-Blaché directed what is now regarded as the world’s first narrative fiction film. Between 1896 and 1906, she was the only female filmmaker in the world, before she inspired other women to join the industry behind the camera.
