The actress and director Voices Anger Over Hollywood's Regression for Female Professionals
The renowned actress and filmmaker has declared she is “so angry” that advancements for women in the film industry have gone backwards after a short-lived surge of improvement post the #MeToo era.
The Twilight star, who directed the forthcoming 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. “A disappointingly low figure of films from the previous year have been made by women.”
A yearly study that monitors the presence of women directors revealed that eleven of the top 100 films of 2024 were directed by women, a decrease from 16 in 2020.
‘Boys’ Club Business Model’
In her address, Stewart said: “After the MeToo movement, it seemed possible that stories created by and for females were at last receiving recognition. That we could be permitted or even encouraged to share our views and our shared experiences, every aspect of our lives without filter.
“However, I can confirm to the bare-knuckle brawling that it requires at each stage when the material is too grim, too controversial, when the frankness with which it presents insights about experiences routinely experienced by women, often elicits aversion and dismissal.”
She added: “We can discuss wage gaps and taxes on tampons and quantify the imbalance in many measurable forms. But the act of muting voices, it’s like we’re not allowed to feel rage. But I can eat this podium with a utensil and sharp tool. I’m furious.”
Attendees listening to Stewart’s address included a number of well-known female stars.
Stewart was met with several rounds of applause during the duration of her brief talk.
“I appreciate you,” she said. “I do not thank a boys’ club business model that pretends to want to hang out with us while draining our assets and diminishing our genuine viewpoints. Let’s try and not be tokenised. It’s time to create our own value.”
New films from several female directors are among those for the forthcoming Oscars race, but the top directing award is once again expected to be male in majority.
