Using AI to Decode Gender Norms in Global Entertainment Media

How do films, TV shows, and online forums reflect and shape gender norms, and how can AI help us track and transform those narratives? The MAPGEN research program—a collaboration between the University of Southern California, the University of Pennsylvania, and the World Bank's Development Impact (DECDI) and Gender teams—aims to leverage large language models and human-in-the-loop methods to inform smarter policies, more inclusive storytelling, and scalable social change. This breakfast seminar, co-sponsored by the Gender Group, the Digital VPU, and DECDI is the first of a series under MAPGEN which will dive into the application of AI tools to decode social norms and their emotional reinforcement in global entertainment media.