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Is Jennifer Lawrence The Next Emma Watson?

Michelle Tiu |
October 8, 2014 | 4:50 p.m. PDT

Entertainment Producer

Both Emma Watson and Jennifer Lawrence have touched upon important issues recently. (@KiSS925 / Twitter)
Both Emma Watson and Jennifer Lawrence have touched upon important issues recently. (@KiSS925 / Twitter)
In an interview with contributing editor Sam Kashner for Vanity Fair's November issue, Jennifer Lawrence finally broke her silence and addressed the massive nude photo leak in August that targeted her and many other female celebrities.

As many people have before her, "The Hunger Games" actress called attention to the issues of consent and privacy rights, while also addressing the common misconception that celebrities should just accept that these types of things happen due to their fame.

"Just because I'm a public figure, just because I'm an actress, does not mean that I asked for this. It does not mean that it comes with the territory," said Lawrence. "It's my body, and it should be my choice, and the fact that it is not my choice is absolutely disgusting. I can't believe that we even live in that kind of world."

As for the legal implications of the leak, the actress said, "It is a sex crime. It is a sexual violation. It's disgusting. The law needs to be changed, and we need to change. That's why these Web sites are responsible. Just the fact that somebody can be sexually exploited and violated and the first thought that crosses somebody's mind is to make a profit from it. It's so beyond me."

Lawrence's Vanity Fair interview has drawn comparison's to Emma Watson's awe-inspiring speech at the U.N. headquarters to launch the "HeForShe" campaign, a worldwide movement calling for men to join the fight against gender inequality, in New York last month.

But is Jennifer Lawrence's interview on the same level as Emma Watson's speech? Is Lawrence the next feminist advocate?

The short answer would be no.

Despite its inherent sexism in that almost all of its victims were female celebrities (up until this week when Nick Hogan became the first male celebrity target), the nude photo leak is ultimately more of a privacy rights issue than it is an feminist one.

In the interview, "The Hunger Games" actress also says, "[E]ither your boyfriend is going to look at porn or he's going to look at you." For a movement that seeks to empower women, this statement is somewhat counter-intuitive to feminism in general.

Lawrence's comment is essentially a false dichotomy. She only presents two options - both of which reinforce existing gender stereotypes.

By making this statement, Lawrence reinforces the idea that men are inherently sexual beings whereas women are not. She also basically equates a woman's desirability with her ability to keep her boyfriend's attention by using her body.

Watson, on the other hand, seeks to tear these stereotypes down, which is the entire basis of the "HeForShe" campaign.

Despite the evident nervousness in her voice, the "Harry Potter" actress addressed the common belief that "fighting for women's rights has too often become synonymous with man hating."

"Men - I would like to take this opportunity to extend your formal invitation," said Watson. "Gender equality is your issue too. Because to date, I've seen my father's role as a parent being valued less by society despite my needing his presence as a child as much as my mother's. I've seen young men suffering from mental illness unable to ask for help for fear it would make them look less 'macho' ... I've seen men made fragile and insecure by a distorted sense of what constitutes male success. Men don't have the benefits of equality either."

Both actresses are addressing very important issues in today's world and this article isn't saying that Lawrence might not be a feminist as well, but it is important to understand that what she is discussing in her Vanity Fair interview is not necessarily feminism.

Reach Entertainment Producer Michelle Tiu here and follow her on Twitter.



 

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