This year at the 2020 Oscars, many talented directors and actors were nominated for awards and recognized for their outstanding achievements. However, despite this, many female directors were snubbed at the award show in favor of their male counterparts.

Statistics show that overall, 68% of the Oscars nominees were men, and 31% were women nominees. Even though this may seem like a low percentage of women, this is the highest percentage of women nominees ever recorded. 

In the best director category, only men were nominated. This was where the controversy is rooted from. Many people raised their concerns when the nominations came out, and no females were included but received no response from the Oscars.

The lack of female representation is very worrisome because women have directed some very critical films this year, and the fact that they were snubbed goes to show male favoritism in the movie industry.

Some of the women who were snubbed at the Oscars included Lorene Scafaria, who directed “Hustlers;” Lulu Wang, who directed “The Farewell;” Greta Gerwig, who directed “Little Women;” Marielle Heller, who directed “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood;” Melina Matsoukas, who directed “Queen & Slim;” Alma Har’el, who directed “Honey Boy;” Céline Sciamma, who directed “Portrait of a Lady on Fire;” and Mati Diop, who directed “Atlantics.”

Natalie Portman, an award-winning actress, showed up to the Oscars in a cloak that listed all the names of women who did not get a nomination but deserved one for their essential work for the industry. 

This obvious disclusion of women in the industry has to stop for women to be seen as equals to men. Until then, women will never be recognized for their outstanding achievements.