Actress Cate Blanchett said in the April issue of Vogue Australia magazine that Hollywood’s practice of discriminating against women is changing only because female audiences demand it.
Much has been made about the industry’s practice of generally hiring young actresses for leading roles and paying them less than their male counterparts. Others have also raised questions about the validity of an aging leading lady in today’s world, but according to Blanchett, that’s changing.
“Female audiences are driving the change, I think. Women don’t stop consuming cultural product once they stop menstruating,” she said in response to a question about whether women are finished in the industry, after they are no longer considered “f–kable.”
The 45-year-old Oscar award-winning star is reportedly stunned by the amount of people unaware of gender inequality, especially as it pertains to monetary compensation, in film.
“People were surprised? There are countless industries around the world where women in top positions are not equally remunerated for equal work,” Blanchett told the publication.
The Sony Hacking scandal revealed in December that several female actresses, including Jennifer Lawrence and Amy Adams, were being paid significantly less than their male counterparts.
Some have speculated that fallout from emails leaked from the hack could lead to a change in hiring practices for females in TV and film, as many women continue to demand wage equality.
Blanchett joins Patricia Arquette, Charlize Theron, Reese Witherspoon, and Jessica Chastain as the latest to chime in on Hollywood gender inequality.