OPNION EDITOR – MARIANA CHAMORRO
ORIGINALLY PRINTED ON FEB 2, 2023
The entertainment industry has proven to foster a sexist work environment, where women are objectified, underpaid and not provided the same opportunities as men. Actresses, models, singers and Hollywood icons have constantly fallen victim to Hollywood’s sexist views, despite women in the industry speaking out and voicing their concerns. They are seen, but not heard.
In 2017, the #MeToo movement rose; with it, many women with stories to tell. However, this wave didn’t completely change the industry; women in entertainment still regularly experience sexism in the workplace. Regardless, it opened a door for women to speak out and for other women to understand what they were going through.
Brittany Spears, the iconic singer, had been controlled by her father since the beginning of her career. Her performances amassed her over $56 million over her decades long career, but she previously had no control over her fortune. Her father
forcibly controlled her finances and prohibited her from further having children. She has spoken openly about this matter and has even compared her experience to human trafficking. “It’s embarrassing
and demoralising what I’ve been through, and that’s the main reason I didn’t say it openly. I just want my life back.” This was in part thanks to an involuntary conservatorship implemented in 2008. However, in the wake of the highly publicized “Free Brittany” movement, the conservatorship was effectively terminated Nov 2021.
Taylor Swift has a different story, as she applies her personal life to her career. This has led to her being “slut-shamed.” Her dating life has been a constant topic in press and media. Even though her music is successful, many news and entertainment outlets claim Swift has used men for content. In an interview with Ellen DeGeneres, they pressured her to play a “game,” forcing her to name men she has written songs about. A video of this interview became viral after the audience saw she was clearly
uncomfortable; not wanting to play the game. Many successful, famous women who go on talk shows are subject to being asked about their dating life and other superficial topics. Swift recently conducted
a major project inspired by the bullying she experienced from her former label. She explained the label was manipulative and had all the rights to her music, so she decided to re-record many of her albums that are “Taylor’s version.”
Demi Lovato has also shared her struggles with mental health and drugs after her near overdose in 2018. When she was a child actor, she was a victim of rape and abuse; leading her down a path of self- blame, shame, and mental illness.
Reese Witherspoon has also been a victim of sexism in her career. She recalled a message from her financial adviser a few years ago that told her she should start saving now as she would be making less money in her 40s. When she was younger, she remembered people telling her that aging or playing a mother on screen would “ruin her.” Witherspoon claims this was true, explaining that she could not find roles she found exciting. This led her to produce her own work; creating Hello Sunshine, a production company focused on bringing women’s creative work to life.
Zoe Saldaña, another successful actress, recalls how lonely she felt on sets surrounded mostly by men. She claims: “I feel lonely on set. And it’s not just that you’re the only woman in the cast. There are very few women on the crew. You hardly ever get to work with a female director. Some female producers try to blend in with their male colleagues and won’t stand up to them. You’re completely outnumbered. And you take a hit in your paycheck as a woman too. I’m so f—ing tired of it,” she said.
Successful women like these, who are constantly in the spotlight, are treated unfairly despite their talent and perseverance. What would happen if we did more than listen to stories like theirs? If society made a stand and acted? We might be able to change the lives of future generations of women and erase obstacles like sexism.