perceptions, practices, & policies ...oh, my!

by Akima A. Brown
Founder, Reel Families for Change

On 28 August 2024, the U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek H. Murthy, issued a national advisory referencing research similar to our own and those we’ve cited, that the current state of American parenting and caregiving is detrimental to the mental health of both carers and the children for whom they’re responsible. 

The Advisory went into grave detail about how the lack of national mandates, community resources, and support affects modern-day carers. Seemingly most notable to the myriad social media influencers and bloggers who commented on the report was the finding that “41% of parents say that most days they are so stressed they cannot function and 48% say that most days their stress is completely overwhelming compared to other adults (20% and 26%, respectively)” (American Psychological Association, Nov. 2023).

Among suggestions for improving the quality of support for parents, and thereby their and  their children’s mental health, the Surgeon General recommends three key things:

  1. Changing the perception of parenthood and caregiving (p. 21). 
  2. Introducing workplace practices, like leadership development and management training that focus on helping supervisors and decision-makers to understand the needs of the parents and caregivers on their teams, and accommodate for them (p. 23).
  3. Adopting national policies that strengthen the social safety net, ensure protections and support for American parents and caregivers, and eradicate traditional barriers, allowing families to thrive (p. 21). 

If you have been following us here at Reel Families for Change for a while, all of this likely sounds familiar. For the last two years, since the launch of our Work-Life Sustainability Report, we have highlighted the importance of shifting perceptions, building practices, and advocating for policy to benefit working families. And why we service all working families, we specialize in serving parents and caregivers of intersectional and/or multi-marginalized identities working in the project-based screen industry. For this reason, we took particular interest in the Surgeon General’s highlight of the disproportionate mental health conditions that certain parents and caregivers face, many of whom fall into our very service demographic.

According to the Advisory, “Particular consideration should be given to parents and caregivers who live in low-income households, experience job instability or unemployment, are racial and ethnic minorities, are sexual and gender minorities, are immigrants, are parents and caregivers of undocumented children, are exposed to violence (e.g., intimate partner violence), are incarcerated, experience food insecurity, are divorced, are in the military or deployed, have disabilities or experience chronic medical problems or trauma, and who have intersectional identities, among others” (pp. 17).

So much of our work relies on changing the perception of screenwork as a viable, legitimate industry. Despite being predominantly composed of freelancers, who contribute almost $1 trillion in economic impact to America’s annual gross domestic product, the value of the screen industry is often delegitimized because its products are largely creative. Without being perceived as a credible ecosystem of working professionals, it is less likely that workplace protections and accommodations will be put in place. This makes workers more vulnerable to exploitation and harm. When coupled with the realities of being a parent or caregiver, especially one with an intersectional and/or multi-marginalized identity, an industry chided for its performative attempts at worker support, the likelihood of job insecurity, divorce, strained parental relationships, and other potential mental health stressors increase exponentially.

At Reel Families for Change, we are actively addressing these challenges through collaborative initiatives, including innovative summits, newly piloted leadership development and training programs, and extensive research and reporting efforts. These initiatives are designed to foster a supportive ecosystem within the project-based screen industry that prioritizes the well-being and professional growth of all working families. Together with our coalition partners, we are pioneering innovative solutions to ensure a future of work that fosters dignity, respect, and equitable opportunities for all.

Are you interested in being on the right side of history for working families, namely working families in film? Learn more more about our initiatives and join our efforts. Take action now by subscribing to our newsletter, hiring us to support your next project, volunteering with us, or making a tax-deductible contribution to our work. We invite you to join us in driving our mission forward and creating positive change in the industry.