Netflix has increased the number of leading roles it gives to women and Asians in its shows and movies, but other communities remain underrepresented, according to a study commissioned by the University of Southern California for the streaming company.

The actors of the TV series “Wednesday” The Addams Family filmed in RomaniaPhoto: Image Press Agency / dpa USA / Profimedia Images

Netflix commissioned the study in a context in which some minorities in the United States criticize the lack of progress in their representation, despite Hollywood’s efforts in recent years in this regard.

The study analyzed movies and series broadcast by the American streaming platform from 2018 to 2021, based on the gender and race/ethnicity of the actors in them, as well as representatives of the LGBT community or people with disabilities.

The results, released on Thursday, show that Netflix is ​​giving more opportunities to women in lead roles, directing roles and creative roles.

But he also found that the streaming platform’s output still lacks significant representation of people with disabilities, roles for girls and women of color, or “gender-balanced” storylines.

A study indicates that only 1.1% of all characters in Netflix series and movies are presented as people with disabilities, despite the fact that 27% of the population of the United States identifies with such a condition.

More and more Asian actors in Netflix series and movies

The study also found a lack of progress in the casting of Latino actors in Netflix movies, with only 5.8 percent of them in leading roles, compared to 17.1 percent for people of color and 9.4 percent for Asians.

In the United States, Hispanics make up 12% of the general population, the study also highlights that only 1.9% of Netflix writers were from this minority.

But at the same time, the number of roles given to Asians has increased significantly, with 41.5% of Netflix series now starring an Asian actor in a lead or co-lead role. In 2018, this percentage was only 4%.

The release of the diversity study comes shortly after Netflix came under fire for casting a black actress as Cleopatra in a documentary about the Egyptian queen.

Criticism has intensified on social media after Netflix decided to shut down YouTube comments on a trailer for a documentary that premieres next month.