There’s been a lot of talk this year about the White Oscars – it’s the first year since 1997 that there has been virtually no diversity represented in all four acting categories and civil rights era film Selma was considered to be snubbed in a number of major categories. The resulting conversation? Media and broadcast viewers alike are taking a closer look at exactly how white and male the Academy itself is.
Here’s a look at who’s deciding who takes home the trophies this Sunday, all with memberships that never expire.
Let’s assume that one cute little head equals fifty voters to represent the approximate 5,500 votes currently in the Academy. These numbers are based off of the famous LA Times study of over 5,100 Academy members conducted in 2012, over 89% of which were active at the time of interview. The numbers have since changed, but if speculation is any indication, not by much.
Without further ado, here are your voters:
The Actors
Median age: 63
Race: 88% white
Gender: 59% male, 41% female
[Actors comprise 20% of Academy voters]
Art Directors, Cinematographers, & Directors
ART DIRECTORS:
Median age: 63
Race: 96% white
Gender: 57% male, 43% female
[Art Directors comprise 6% of Academy voters]
CINEMATOGRAPHERS:
Median age: 62
Race: 90% white
Gender: 96% male, 4% female
[Cinematographers compose 4% of Academy voters]
DIRECTORS:
Median age: 64
Race: 90% white
Gender: 91% male, 9% female
[Directors compose 6% of Academy voters]
Documentary, Executives, & Film Editors 
DOCUMENTARY:
Median Age: 63
Race: 94% white
Gender: 67% male, 33% female
[Documentarians compose 6% of Academy voters]
EXECUTIVES:
Median age: 62
Race: 98% white
Gender: 89% male, 11% female
[Executives compose 8% of Academy voters]
FILM EDITORS:
Median age: 63
Race: 95% white
81% male & 19% female
[Film editors compose 4% of Academy voters]
Makeup, Music, Producers, & Members at Large
MAKEUP:
Median age: 60
Race: 97% white
Gender: 54% male, 46% female
[Makeup artists compose 2% of Academy voters]
MEMBERS AT LARGE:
Median age: 65
Race: 97% white
Gender: 72% male, 28% female
[Members at large compose 4% of Academy voters]
MUSIC:
Median age: 63
Race: 93% white
Gender: 92% male, 8% female
[Musicians compose 4% of Academy voters]
PRODUCERS:
Median age: 63
Race: 96% white
Gender: 82% male, 18% female
[Producers compose 8% of Academy voters]
PR, Writers, & Visual Effects
PUBLIC RELATIONS:
Median age: 62
Race: 96% white
Gender: 63% male, 37% female
[Public relations professionals compose 6% of Academy voters]
WRITERS:
Median age: 63
Race: 98% white
Gender: 82% male, 18% female
[Writers compose 7% of Academy voters]
VISUAL EFFECTS:
Median age: 56
Race: 96% white
Gender: 97% male, 3% female
[Visual effects compose 5% of Academy voters]
Sound & Short Films / Animation
SOUND:
Median age: 60
Race: 95% white
Gender: 92% male, 8% female
[Sound artists compose 7% of Academy voters]
SHORT FILMS/ANIMATION:
Median Age: 54
Race: 93% white
Gender: 84% male, 16% female
[The Short films / animation bloc comprises 6% of Academy voters]
The Academy has repeatedly defended itself by refuting that their organization is obliged to reflect the current state of Hollywood, which is admittedly slow to diversify as well. Though a valid argument, look at the comparatively progressive Golden Globes broadcast this year – awards went to a Latina leading actress, a show centered around a transgendered character and Selma got its due.
The takeaway? No matter the Academy’s argument, the statues being distributed Sunday night are voted on by experienced professionals with an extreme lack in diversity. While they may represent their industry, they certainly don’t represent the culture they’re catering to.
