JLaw's essay about inequality in Hollywood for Lena Dunham's "Lenny Letter"

[retroglamx 5,174]

Why Do I Make Less Than My Male Co‑Stars?

By Jennifer Lawrence

When Lena first brought up the idea of Lenny to me, I was excited. Excited to speak to Lena, who I think is a genius, and excited to start thinking about what to complain about (that’s not what she pitched me, it’s just what I’m gonna do). When it comes to the subject of feminism, I’ve remained ever-so-slightly quiet. I don’t like joining conversations that feel like they’re “trending.” I’m even the asshole who didn’t do anything about the ice-bucket challenge — which was saving lives — because it started to feel more like a “trend” than a cause. I should have written a check, but I ****ing forgot, okay? I’m not perfect. But with a lot of talk comes change, so I want to be honest and open and, fingers crossed, not piss anyone off.

It’s hard for me to speak about my experience as a working woman because I can safely say my problems aren’t exactly relatable. When the Sony hack happened and I found out how much less I was being paid than the lucky people with dicks, I didn’t get mad at Sony. I got mad at myself. I failed as a negotiator because I gave up early. I didn’t want to keep fighting over millions of dollars that, frankly, due to two franchises, I don’t need. (I told you it wasn’t relatable, don’t hate me).

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Rest of essay: http://us11.campaign-archive1.com/?u=a5b04a26aae05a24bc4efb63e&id=64e6f35176&e=1ba99d671e#wage

 

"I found out how much less I was being paid than the lucky people with dicks" - sadly, this is too real. 

I agree with her a lot, and I like the way she writes, she sounds really down to earth and not consumed by Hollywood at all. I really like this girl.

[migamiga 12,101]

Love ha

[retroglamx 5,174]

Her closing statement tho:

I’m over trying to find the “adorable” way to state my opinion and still be likable! **** 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. Jeremy Renner, Christian Bale, and Bradley Cooper all fought and succeeded in negotiating powerful deals for themselves. If anything, I’m sure they were commended for being fierce and tactical, while I was busy worrying about coming across as a brat and not getting my fair share. Again, this might have NOTHING to do with my vagina, but I wasn’t completely wrong when another leaked Sony email revealed a producer referring to a fellow lead actress in a negotiation as a “spoiled brat.” For some reason, I just can’t picture someone saying that about a man.

[craig 680]

My heart bleeds for her. The inequality faced by the 0.000001%. What a pity she isn't working some service industry job , making a low wage ... but hey, the same as all the guys!

Most Average Joes and Janes don't get to negotiate their wage and are paid by job classification. I'm sure JLaw has an agent, why not blame them for bad negotiation? Or maybe it's her age. Pro athletes negotiate contracts, are paid different for the same job, and often high-performing young players get less than older ones.

I hear that JLaw is making $20 million for he current movie and her male co-star only #12 million. Now she's paid her dues, she gets more.

[craig 680]

Her closing statement tho:

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. ... Again, this might have NOTHING to do with my vagina, but I wasn’t completely wrong when another leaked Sony email revealed a producer referring to a fellow lead actress in a negotiation as a “spoiled brat.” For some reason, I just can’t picture someone saying that about a man.

ALL men are just naturally self-confident and find it easy to be heard! None ever worry about getting flak or saying the wrong thing. LOL.

I'm sure young guys like Justin Bieber get called brats plenty too. It's an age-related not a gender-related put down.  

[retroglamx 5,174]

ALL men are just naturally self-confident and find it easy to be heard! None ever worry about getting flak or saying the wrong thing. LOL.

I'm sure young guys like Justin Bieber get called brats plenty too. It's an age-related not a gender-related put down.  

Are you sure you want to generalize your statement to ALL men? That's just delusional. Not all men are naturally self-confident. Men have it easier but we're not naturally born to make ourselves heard.

[craig 680]

If only JLaw was a model, she could have been paid way more than her male colleagues. http://fortune.com/2015/07/15/male-models-pay/

 

[Chic 20,830]

If only JLaw was a model, she could have been paid way more than her male colleagues. http://fortune.com/2015/07/15/male-models-pay/

 

This is not a fair comparison. Women are generally s-xualized more than men; female models are oftentimes used as eye candy for men and thus are in a higher demand than male models. This is why most straight p0rn focuses on the girl, why male solo p0rn videos are minimal in number compared to female solos, and many other instances of women being stereotyped as being more visually appealing than men.

Acting has to do with the art of pretense and the talents in that area, and being a 10/10 bombshell is not inherently accounted into that, although it does help.

Wage gaps in modeling make sense because of societal demand based on generalized gender differences, wage gaps in acting don't make sense because society as a whole demands talent regardless of gender.

[retroglamx 5,174]

This is not a fair comparison. Women are generally s-xualized more than men; female models are oftentimes used as eye candy for men and thus are in a higher demand than male models. This is why most straight p0rn focuses on the girl, why male solo p0rn videos are minimal in number compared to female solos, and many other instances of women being stereotyped as being more visually appealing than men.

Acting has to do with the art of pretense and the talents in that area, and being a 10/10 bombshell is not inherently accounted into that, although it does help.

Wage gaps in modeling make sense because of societal demand based on generalized gender differences, wage gaps in acting don't make sense because society as a whole demands talent regardless of gender.

[craig 680]

This is not a fair comparison. Women are generally s-xualized more than men; female models are oftentimes used as eye candy for men and thus are in a higher demand than male models.

The best paid female models don't do p*rn or focus on men's mags - they work in a fashion industry that sells clothes to women. It's female models that typical cover women-oriented mags. So if straight women are more into fashion and spend more on it, female models make more.

Likewise if action movies (with more and better male roles) typically make more money than romantic comedies and musicals (which equally good roles for both genders)  than male actors will make more. Golden Age Hollywood had better roles for women because dramas and musicals were popular then - not action shoot-em-ups  or comic book heroes.

JLaw is most famous for starring in an action, dystopian, sci-fi series, The Hunger Games, But that genre overall has more and better male roles (consider Lord of the Rings).

[Guest]

I have so much respect for her after this. More people, especially males, need to speak up.