Jennifer Lawrence is making headlines again. Recently, Lawrence wrote an essay for Lena Dunham’s e-newsletter, Lenny Letter, about her personal experiences with wage inequality. Her essay has sparked a huge debate across the nation for women in every profession making less than their male coworkers (or costars in Lawrence’s matter).
In her essay, she talks about how she found out (from the Sony Hack) that she was paid much less in American Hustle than her co-stars Jeremy Renner, Christian Bale, and Bradley Cooper. Lawrence said she wasn’t mad at Sony, but rather at herself.
“I failed as a negotiator because I gave up early.” She says.
Lawrence then goes on in the essay talking about figuring out why she gave up early in the negotiations of her paycheck. She blames wanting to be liked, not wanting to seem “difficult” or “spoiled” and not wanting to offend others for the reason she didn’t speak up for herself. She then asks the Lenny Letter readers to stop and think for a moment about if we as women have really come as far as we think we have.
“Are we (women) socially conditioned to behave this way? Could there still be a lingering habit of trying to express our opinions in a certain way that doesn’t “offend” or “scare” men?” she asks.
She ends her essay by saying,
“I’m over trying to find the “adorable” way to state my opinion and still be likable! Fuck that. I don’t think I’ve ever worked for a man in charge who spent time contemplating what angle he should use to have his voice heard. It’s just heard.”
Lots of other Hollywood stars are responding to Lawrence’s essay. Amy Schumer, a close friend of Jennifer’s said:
“I thought that was so badass. I of course support wage equality and all equality, but if we just raise the minimum wage…that would take care of everybody.”
Dakota Johnson, the 50 Shades of Grey star, said:
“I thought it was great…she’s a bold woman, and I appreciate that. I think that it’s a good time for changes to be made in the way women are treated in Hollywood.”
Even male Hollywood actors are commenting on the essay. Bradley Cooper, one of Lawrence’s costars in American Hustle (the movie she got paid way less than her male co-stars), said:
“She worked on that movie and got paid nothing…It’s really horrible actually, it’s almost embarrassing. She should have been paid more than everybody…Usually you don’t talk about the financial stuff, you have people…but you know what? It’s time to start doing that.”
Jessica Chastain, another famous Hollywood actress who has had her own experiences with wage inequality, is applauding Cooper for speaking up:
“Women can talk about it, (but) it actually moves me a lot to hear men talk about it as well.”
Hopefully Jennifer Lawrence’s essay on wage inequality will not only continue to make people talk about the unfairness of wage inequality, but also inspire people to do something to fix this issue.
To read Lawrence’s entire essay, go to https://www.facebook.com/JenniferLawrence/posts/10153012783811793
HCXOXO,
Kelli Carmack
Resources:
https://www.facebook.com/JenniferLawrence/posts/10153012783811793
http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2015/10/jennifer-lawrence-wage-gap-essay-response