| Gendered or Non-Gendered Acting Categories | |
| Last Edit: BroadwayTonyJ 12:58 pm EDT 06/03/23 | |
| Posted by: BroadwayTonyJ 12:47 pm EDT 06/03/23 | |
| In reply to: re: Gendered award categories (NPR) - Ann 08:42 am EDT 06/02/23 | |
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| In 1947 when the Tonys debuted, the acting categories were gender neutral. There were 4 winners for OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE: Ingrid Bergman, Helen Hayes, Jose Ferrer, Fredric March. The sole winner for OUTSTANDING MUSICAL PERFORMANCE was David Wayne. In 1948 and 1949 there were separate categories for lead male and female actors in Plays. The categories for MUSICAL PERFORMANCE; NEWCOMER; and/or SUPPORTING in Plays were gender neutral. In 1950 all acting categories for plays, musicals, leads, and supporting were separate for male and female actors. The Oscars (going back to their debut in 1927-28) have always had separate categories for male and female actors. I've never seen stated reasons for separate acting categories for male and female actors, although I'm sure that in the early decades white males clearly dominated. I imagine that began to change significantly in the 1940's. Today I don't think women would have any trouble competing against men. I think it's more about what audiences want. I suspect that audiences prefer a single winner in acting categories and not multiples ones, but that's just my opinion. I think you would actually have to poll audiences and actors themselves to determine what's the best way to proceed when it comes to gender. I can't imagine the Oscars ever going to gender neutral acting categories, not after 96 years of a tradition that audiences have accepted worldwide. Of course, the Tonys are a completely different animal. The audience is much, much smaller and more specialized. Nevertheless, the devil is in the details when it comes to introducing change without driving audiences away. What about an idea like a single new acting category, something like Best Gender Nonconforming Performer in a Play or Musical? It would cover all roles, musical, play, lead, and supporting. It would be an option for nonbinary, transgender, and gender nonconforming actors who do not feel comfortable competing in gendered specific categories. Just a neutral suggestion -- I'm not pushing an agenda, just looking for some common ground in order to find consensus. |
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