Kristen Stewart Voices Anger Over Hollywood's Regression for Female Professionals
Kristen Stewart has declared she is “so angry” that progress for female directors in Hollywood have reversed after a short-lived surge of positive change following the MeToo movement.
Stewart, who helmed the upcoming film her latest project, gave an emotional address at a women’s luncheon in LA organized by the Academy behind the awards.
“The backsliding from a brief moment of advancement is statistically devastating,” she told the audience. “A disappointingly low figure of films from the past year have been made by women.”
An annual report that monitors the numbers of women directors stated that eleven of the highest-grossing films of 2024 were helmed by female directors, down from 16 in the year 2020.
‘Male-Dominated Industry Model’
In her address, Stewart said: “After the MeToo movement, it appeared likely that narratives made by and for women were finally getting their due. That we could be permitted or even supported to express ourselves and our common stories, all of our experiences without filter.
“But I can now attest to the intense struggle that it takes every step when the content is too grim, too controversial, when the honesty with which it serves up observations about experiences commonly faced by females, often elicits disgust and rejection.”
She added: “We can talk about pay disparities and taxes on tampons and quantify the imbalance in many measurable forms. But the violence of silencing, it’s like we’re not even supposed to be angry. But I could devour this stand with a fork and [expletive] knife. I’m so angry.”
Attendees listening to Stewart’s speech featured several prominent actresses.
Stewart received multiple ovations during the duration of her brief talk.
“I am thankful to you,” she stated. “I am not grateful a male-centric industry framework that pretends to want to associate with us while draining our assets and belittling our true perspectives. We must avoid being used as tokens. Let’s start printing our own currency.”
New films from a few women filmmakers are among those for the forthcoming Oscars race, but the top directing award is once again expected to be dominated by men.
