Aniston inspires actresses to address sexist culture

When one of Hollywood’s most objectified women talks about tabloid culture, people listen. But while actresses are cheering Jennifer Aniston’s recent essay connecting the media’s obsession with her looks to the overall objectification of women, most are resigned that reality will be slow to catch up with the conversation.
“Entrenched ways take a while to change,” said Marisa Tomei, “but having the conversations and opening it up, objecting to it or seeing different points of view about it is really helpful.”
“I applaud Jennifer,” said actress Allison Janney. “I hate that she had to do it, but I think she just had enough.”
Aniston wrote in her Huffington Post essay earlier this month that constant tabloid speculation over whether she’s pregnant contributes to sexist cultural standards that equate a woman’s worth with her appearance and maternal status. “More scrutiny has always been leveled at women, no matter the context,” said Ella Ceron, digital entertainment editor for Teen Vogue magazine. “Women are held to different standards than men, and are taught from a young age to value their looks and their grooming and their weight very seriously.”
Other actresses have been speaking out against sexist beauty standards for years. Barbra Streisand says it’s “backward” for our culture to consider actresses in their 40s as somehow “too old.”
“It’s not a European way of looking at, like, movie stars who look like real people,” Streisand said. “They have flaws, you know.”
“The thing is, a man can be attractive without it being his entire selling point,” said Ceron of Teen Vogue.
Actress Abigail Breslin says consumers have a significant role to play. Tabloids may have influenced popular perceptions of women’s looks, but readers don’t have to remain complicit.

Source : Arab News