According to a Chicago Tribune article titled “A gender-flipped ‘Ocean’s Eleven’ won’t solve Hollywood’s sexism problem,” news about a gender-swapped “Ocean’s Eleven” is the kind of thing that sounds like a step toward equality, but is actually rooted in an idea about women and storytelling that risks shutting out women’s voices and perspectives in the long run.
Sexism in Hollywood is real. Female actresses are being paid less than their male costars. Their roles aren’t as significant as the male roles. And while gender swapping seems like a good thing on the surface, the author states that slipping actresses into roles that male actors were initially intended to occupy could easily “result in movies where women are determined to be interesting and admirable only when they act like men often do in films: when they’re decisive, physically forceful and confident in their sexuality without fear of consequence.”
Using this kind of role reversal as a tactic to fight for gender equity in Hollywood risks ceding the idea that there’s nothing distinct and unique about female characters and perspectives. In a way, the article suggests that a film like “Ocean’s Eleven” will only hinder any progression towards equality in Hollywood.
Students respond to sexism in Hollywood
People in the media need to grow up–simple as that. Men need to not be in charge of women’s decisions, and women need to be in charge of those decisions.”— Amy Tedeschi, ’17
“I do believe there is sexism in Hollywood. A lot of the time women get the part more based on beauty than their abilities, which is just wrong. Also men actors get paid more than women actresses being in a similar role. It’s been proven that women get 77 cents to the men’s dollar in all occupations, which is just unfortunate. I hope in the future there will be quality among men and women, not only in Hollywood, but everywhere.” – Blair Diemer, ’17
“Well, media has an overwhelming impact over how we portray the world. If women are stuck into productions for the sole purpose of eye candy and have no ideas, thoughts, or ambitions that can determine how both men and women think a women should behave. For women to emerge into roles with real substance, that shows great progress.” – Jessica Burchett, ’17
