Gender Bias in Hollywood Reportedly Draws Federal Scrutiny

The federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is looking into gender discrimination in Hollywood and sent letters to women directors asking them to share details of roadblocks they have encountered in their careers. The agency is responding to requests the American Civil Liberties Union made to state and federal governmental bodies in May, asking them to investigate major studios, networks and talent agencies for overwhelmingly hiring men.

Citing dismal statistics about representation of women behind the camera -- just 4 percent of top-grossing movies were directed by women over the last 12 years -- the ACLU said women were purposefully excluded from being recruited and hired by what remains an old boys’ club in Hollywood, and that was a violation of civil rights.