WOCU takes surveys with its members, over 6000 women and non-binary people of color working in the entertainment industry. We create specific, vital insight into this vulnerable and often invisible group of people and their career progress.
Women of Color Unite (WOCU) is a Los Angeles-based social action and non-profit organization that focuses on remedying the inequities that face Women of Color in today’s entertainment and media industries. We stand for hiring parity, fair treatment, and providing resources to Women of Color content creators industry-wide.
Women of Color are described as the following:
- African-American/Pan-African/Black,
- Hispanic/Latinx, Asian/Southeast Asian,
- South Asian/East Indian,
- Native American or Alaskan Native,
- Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander,
- Biracial/Multiracial.
Our members self-identify as cisgender women, transgender women and non-binary. We also include members who are LGBTQIA+, veterans and disabled women.
WOCU – a collective of 6000+ women and growing – fosters relationships and inroads with key studios, television executives and showrunners, talent agencies, and relevant guilds that lead to significant and intentional increases in hiring, promoting and deal-making with talented Women of Color.
We create opportunities for engagement between hiring agents and our membership of experienced women to address the indefensible precept: “I don’t know any WOC that I can hire.”
Union Affiliation
Women of Color working in the entertainment industry are severely underrepresented in labor unions, guilds, trade associations and other similar organizations.
Of our sample taken in 2020, 1800 WOC working in the entertainment industry, only 10.12% is a member of a labor union. Only 1.89% of our membership is a member of a guild, trade association or similar organization nor do they have full membership with a labor union (e.g. SAG Eligible, WGA Associate).
This means the vast majority (88%) of Women of Color working in the entertainment industry does not have access to the benefits of labor unions.
To the right, three pie charts outlining union affiliation.
Union Affiliation (in %)
Union membership (in %)
Guild, Trade Association, Other membership (in %)
In Conclusion
Our data presents no huge surprises. Rather, it confirms the story that other well funded high-profile studies have shown about the lack of diversity in the industry. However, our organization collects data specifically and only about Women of Color who generally get lost in the fray of data studies that focus on mainly white women and/or Men of Color.
We needed to isolate the stats for Women of Color to demonstrate the need for proactive measures by the entertainment industry gatekeepers to be inclusive.
A striking note comes from the Professional Track chart. 39% of women in the business from 3-10 years still have not had a meaningful professional break to level up their careers.
That says everything.