Lately in Hollywood, something has shifted. Actresses are fighting against the silly sexism they encounter and are done putting up with it. One way actresses are making a change is by rejecting so many fashion-based questions on the red carpet and pushing interviewers to instead focus on their work or something more intelligent. Feeling that men and women and treated so differently on the red carpet, these stars want to fix the balance and have their voices heard about important topics.
Cate Blanchett
Cate says those interviewing on the red carpet forget about what the women have achieved: “Since I’ve been struttin’ the red carpet, things have changed a lot. The way women are asked about those red-carpet moments. Oh my God. It’s just a dress! People forget the fact that women are up there [at the Academy Awards] because they’ve given extraordinary performances. It’s a wonderful excuse to dress up and have F.U.N. But let’s not forget the work.”
Natalie Portman
Natalie believes the focus on fashion goes too far: “I like to look at what people are wearing, but I do see the sexism in it. Yeah, you could reject it all, but I don’t know anyone who has done that and been able to maintain the level of work I’d like to maintain.”
Reese Witherspoon
Reese says it’s demeaning to only talk about fashion on the red carpet: “I don’t want to discount the beautiful work that the fashion houses do, but somehow, just focusing on what you’re wearing feels reductive. These actresses are there because they made us laugh and made us cry and touched our hearts.”
Sandra Bullock
Sandra doesn’t think it’s fair that women are treated far differently on the red carpet: “I always make a joke: ‘Watch, we’re going to walk down the red carpet, I’m going to be asked about my dress and my hair while the man standing next to me will be asked about his performance and political issues.’ Once we start shifting how we perceive women and stop thinking about them as ‘less than,’ the pay disparity will take care of itself. There’s a much bigger issue at hand. I’m glad Hollywood got caught.”
Zooey Deschanel
Zooey doesn’t understand why women can’t be also asked more intelligent questions: “I’m all for people asking actresses more intelligent questions. Just because you’re wearing a nice dress doesn’t mean you don’t have any ideas. It’s a shame to reduce smart, talented women to clothes models. But you can be a feminist and femmy. I don’t see how those things contradict each other.”
