FAQ About The Evolution of Women's Roles in Hollywood Films

The Hays Code, officially known as the Motion Picture Production Code, was a set of industry moral guidelines that shaped the content of Hollywood films from 1934 to 1968. It had a significant impact on how women were represented on screen, often limiting portrayals to fit conservative ideals, which restricted women's roles to certain stereotypes. This censorship discouraged overtly sexual or morally ambiguous female characters, leading to a lack of complexity in many roles. The eventual relaxation and removal of the Hays Code allowed for more progressive and diverse depictions of women in film.