IAA’s Voice of Change 2.0 Urges Industry to Break the Bias Held on November 10, 2023, the second edition of the IAA India Chapter’s Voice of Change summit—‘Gender Portrayal from 30 Seconds to 3 Hours’—brought together media leaders, policymakers, and creatives to champion gender-sensitive storytelling across platforms.

The event unveiled a landmark Google AI-powered study by the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media, in partnership with SAIL at USC and IAA, analyzing representation in India’s top scripted television shows (2018–2022) across five languages. The study revealed major disparities, including an overrepresentation of young adults and lighter-skinned characters, with women appearing more frequently but still portrayed through narrow lenses.

Chief Guest Khushbu Sundar, Member of the National Commission for Women, emphasized the importance of equitable portrayal starting at home. Guest of Honour Dia Mirza, in an inspiring fireside chat, highlighted how conscious role choices can challenge gender norms and inspire change.

Megha Tata and Nina Elavia Jaipuria of the IAA Women Empowerment Committee reaffirmed IAA’s commitment to redefining cultural narratives through content, while Google’s Neha Barjatya and Komal Singh spoke about leveraging AI for social impact and inclusive storytelling.

The day featured two engaging panels:

• ‘From Screen to Screen’ explored gender narratives in entertainment with leaders from Applause Entertainment, Amazon Prime, Disney Star, and creators like Manasi Salvi and Sumukhi Suresh.
• ‘Gender Portrayal in Advertising and Media’ discussed biases in advertising with voices from YouTube India, Famous Innovations, and others, moderated by ET Brand Equity’s Prasad Sangameshwaran.

Gender Warriors such as KV ‘Pops’ Sridhar, Dr. A.L. Sharada, and Dr. Shyam Sundar Paliwal were honoured for their lasting impact on advancing gender equity.

The summit concluded with a collective pledge from attendees to consciously create and support gender-equitable content. With support from Google India, UNICEF, and TVS Raider, the event marked a significant milestone in the IAA’s ongoing Voice of Change movement.