“Men get custom suits and shirts to fit, but as women, if you don’t fit into that sample, you bump up against an aspect of your career you can never blossom into.” Brie Larson comments about Hollywood. Sadly, this is true for other industries in the cinematic universe and isn’t restricted to this issue. Women celebrities have reported discrimination and inequality in terms of pay, personal lives, and treatment from reporters. This article discusses the major spheres of the profession that pose issues for female celebrities.
Pay Inequality:
The world has come a long way in terms of women’s empowerment over the centuries. Feminist movements have fought for equal pay, and there have been acts passed about the same in many governments, including India. This being said, there are still issues, even among celebrities. Women actresses get paid less than their male counterparts. For instance, a 2018 survey that Forbes conducted showed that the list of high-paid celebrities comprises only 14% women.
Female leadership in the cinematic universe
Mindy Kaling speaks about her experience in the direction of her series The Office. She talks about how the decisions that she makes or commands given are always taken into second consideration, which may not be the case if she were a man. Women decision-makers and leaders from other walks of life have also reported similar issues. Though celebrities help bring such issues to light, it is not always the case that ‘justice is served’ for them.
Personal life:
It is very likely that you have read about or even watched in person how a woman’s acting profession falters away as she starts her family life or gets married. Though in recent years, women celebrities have continued to work, there are still instances where they are assigned only specific roles or denied certain roles.
These concerns highlight the need for increased attention and the application of a feminist (though not radicalised) viewpoint to the world of celebrities as well. Assumptions of comfort and luxury for female celebrities must not hinder them from receiving equal treatment as their male counterparts in any aspect.
