Kristen Stewart Expresses Fury Over The Film Industry's Regression for Women
Kristen Stewart has stated she is “so angry” that advancements for female directors in Hollywood have reversed after a short-lived surge of positive change post the MeToo movement.
Stewart, who helmed the upcoming film her latest project, gave an emotional address at a women’s luncheon in Los Angeles organized by the Academy behind the awards.
“The backsliding from a short period of progress is alarming by the numbers,” she told the audience. “Such a pitiful number of films from the previous year have been made by women.”
A yearly study that tracks the numbers of women directors revealed that 11 of the highest-grossing films of last year were helmed by female directors, a decrease from 16 in the year 2020.
‘Boys’ Club Business Model’
During her speech, Stewart remarked: “In a post-MeToo moment, it seemed possible that narratives made by and for women were at last receiving recognition. That we might be allowed or even encouraged to share our views and our common stories, all of our experiences without filter.
“However, I can confirm to the bare-knuckle brawling that it takes every step when the content is too dark, too taboo, when the honesty with which it presents insights about experiences routinely experienced by women, frequently provokes aversion and dismissal.”
She added: “We can discuss pay disparities and taxes on tampons and measure [inequality] in many measurable forms. But the act of muting voices, it’s like we’re not even supposed to be angry. But I could devour this stand with a fork and [expletive] knife. I’m so angry.”
The guests listening to Stewart’s speech featured a number of well-known female stars.
Stewart was met with several rounds of applause over the course of her brief talk.
“I appreciate you,” she said. “I am not grateful a boys’ club business model that pretends to want to hang out with us while siphoning our resources and diminishing our genuine viewpoints. Let’s try and not be tokenised. Let’s start printing our own currency.”
New films from several female directors are in the running for the next Academy Awards, but the top directing award is anticipated again to be dominated by men.
