Honoring Women in Hollywood

Elle Magazine, in their November 2008 issue, ran an article celebrating seven women in Hollywood who were “noteworthy.” The issue noted Nicole Kidman, Anne Hathaway, Sigourney Weaver, Salma Hayek, Halle Berry, and Catherine Hardwicke as Hollywood icons; Isla Fisher as their Hollywood spotlight; and Jane Fonda as a Hollywood legend.
In addition to the magazine coverage, an event was held to honor the women. Editor of Elle, Roberta Myers, said that the annual dinner is designed to pay tribute to women “who are telling our stories.”
Some of the biggest names in Hollywood women attended the event to honor their fellow actresses. Crucial introductions were made from generations of Hollywood women, having the event serve as not only an honoring but also a networking agent.
Sigourney Weaver, although looking at the event as positive, did include some skepticism, saying, “Someday hopefully it won’t be necessary to allocate a special evening to celebrate where we are and how far we’ve come… Someday women writers, producers, and crew members will be so commonplace, and roles and salaries for actresses will outstrip those for men, and pigs will fly.” Weaver does admit that things for women in Hollywood have improved, but adds, “We do have a long way to go.”
One of the younger stars honored, Anne Hathaway, has made it a personal habit to only choose roles that do not have negative messages about women. Hathaway says, “Women are about so much more than how they look… I’m free to play my characters as I imagine them, far beyond what size jeans they wear.” Hathaway played the princess-to-be of Genovia in the Princess Diaries, portraying to young girls that women can be empowered and hold elite positions.
Although the event highlighted women who are doing wonderful things in Hollywood, it should be unnecessary to have an event to honor these women. They should be honored every day in the media and in the roles that they play, choosing ones that show women in a favorable light. These honorary women should show future generations that they are choosing roles where women are equals, not subservient, powerful, not meek, and strong, not succumbing. These women have the ability to send messages to younger generations who watch them in the movies and on television, and the messages sent need to be positive. Maybe the start of this is through having events that honor only women in Hollywood, separating them from their male counterparts.

Sources used:
Cohen, Sandy. "A-list women celebrate their own in Hollywood." Associated Press. October 9, 2008. http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jWaUhdRi6N2a0qExRddSY_cXrzXwD93LP82O0