Coming straight off the heels of Harvey Weinstein's numerous alleged sexual abuse charges, focus is once again (albeit briefly) on women in Hollywood facing oppression. This is news that it is not surprising, especially with the ongoing abuse centered around women and children within the film industry. There is a long history of women being seen as simply tools of the trade. From unnecessary female nudity, degrading sexual positions for higher box office returns, or offers for sexual favors to those behind the scenes, these have become indoctrinated parts into the Hollywood production cycle. Hollywood execs fixating on maintaining the “Old Hollywood” glamour and esteem forget all too often that women are no longer just “the talent.”
This mindset adds to the disappointing statistics displaying the limited space women are allowed to occupy. As of 2016, of the top 100 films that year, only 4% were women. This statistic alone, as well as the fact that only one woman has ever won for Best Director at the Academy Awards, show the reality women entering this industry are facing. While some may say this is because male directors are more skilled or experienced, the reality is that women are only given a small percentage of films to work on in the first place. A percentage that, in 2016, had barely budged from where it stood in the 1990s.
All of this makes the spaces for women with potentially high artistic influence in Hollywood extremely narrow, allowing even more power to those who dictate who fill them. This leads us back to Weinstein, who presents just one example of a producer allegedly asking for sexual favors, in return for a career boost for the women involved. This is not the only case, however, there are many ways in which those attempt to manipulate women with the promise of work.
Jennifer Lawrence, one of the highest paid actresses and widely respected actresses in Hollywood, recently described her own experience. At an event for ELLE magazine this year, Lawrence described how she was once looked up and down in a lineup of girls by a film producer. All of the girls in this lineup (including Lawrence) were not allowed to wear clothing, in order to show as much of themselves as possible. Afterwards, the producer told her that she needed to lose weight if she wanted a chance in the industry. As Lawrence explained, "One girl before me had already been fired for not losing enough weight fast enough.”
This is just one example of how women regularly have power taken from them in the film business. This is a trade they have to fight to enter, until the fight turns into maintaining their own sexual safety, body image, and mental wellbeing. This is not to say, that men don’t receive their share of assault in this field, however, the overwhelming occurrences of female-targeted abuse is something that, if improved, will improve this situation for everyone of every gender. It’s time for those in Hollywood, including women who witness or experience these actions, to speak up, whether out loud or anonymously. This is the only way that the underlying abuse of those within the film industry can be fully addressed, instead of swept under the rug again.
