Kristen Stewart Voices Anger Over Hollywood's Regression for Women
Kristen Stewart has declared she is “furious” that advancements for female directors in the film industry have gone backwards after a brief period of improvement following the #MeToo era.
The Twilight star, who directed the upcoming film The Chronology of Water, delivered an emotional speech at a women’s luncheon in Los Angeles organized by the Academy behind the awards.
“The regression from a brief moment of advancement is statistically devastating,” she informed attendees. “Such a pitiful number of films from the previous year have been directed by female filmmakers.”
A yearly study that tracks the numbers of female filmmakers stated that eleven of the highest-grossing films of 2024 were directed by women, a decrease from sixteen in 2020.
‘Boys’ Club Business Model’
In her address, Stewart said: “In a post-MeToo moment, it appeared likely that narratives created by and for females were at last receiving recognition. That we might be allowed or even supported to share our views and our shared experiences, every aspect of our lives unfiltered.
“But I can now attest to the bare-knuckle brawling that it requires at each stage when the content is too grim, too taboo, when the honesty with which it serves up observations about situations routinely experienced by women, frequently provokes aversion and dismissal.”
She continued: “We can discuss wage gaps and menstrual product taxes and quantify the imbalance in lots of quantifiable ways. 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 furious.”
Attendees listening to Stewart’s address included several prominent actresses.
Stewart was met with multiple ovations over the course of her seven-minute speech.
“I appreciate you,” she stated. “I do not thank a boys’ club business model that claims to desire to associate with us while siphoning our resources and belittling our true perspectives. We must avoid being used as tokens. It’s time to create our own value.”
Upcoming projects from several female directors are in the running for the next Academy Awards, but the top directing award is anticipated again to be dominated by men.
