Jennifer Lawrence’s essay on the gender pay gap in Hollywood has drawn praise from actors and actresses alike; and it’s one of her youngest supporters, 14-year-old Rowan Blanchard and star of Girl Meets World, who has proven that she just gets it.
In a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, Blanchard discussed her thoughts on Jennifer Lawrence being called “bratty” after the publication of her essay. “I think every female actress knew it, and they all knew that it was happening, but nobody wanted to say anything because they were just like, ‘Okay, you know what, I still got paid; it wasn’t as much, but I still got paid,’” she said.
“Society was telling them that if you speak out you’re going to be labeled, like, this feminist crazy person, difficult, difficult to work with—and that, in itself, is very sexist,” she added. “All these female actresses are literally labeled difficult to work with because, God forbid, they have an opinion.”
When somebody calls Jennifer Lawrence “bratty” for speaking up, they’re sweeping an important issue under the rug. Fortunately, she and other actresses like Blanchard won’t let those who’d rather take the easy way out silence them. “I’m definitely happy that people are speaking out and people are recognizing that they have the power to change things,” Blanchard said. “But at the same time, it’s frustrating that immediately, Jennifer Lawrence is labeled as annoying… It’s difficult, but people have to keep on doing it in order to break these barriers.”
Even though Lawrence is arguably one of the most widely heard voices in the world, she’s still only one voice. But to see her point of view become so widely supported by others—even spurring other actors like Bradley Cooper to help with the cause—is what will really bring about change. And when we hear someone like Rowan Blanchard voice her thoughts so articulately and eloquently at such an incredibly young age, it really does seem like these changes are ready to start happening.