Many female stars complain that Hollywood is sexist – but demanding pay equality is something everyone should be considered about, no matter what your profession. Women are still earning less than men for the same job and stars are taking a stand against how unfair the pay divide is. Commenting that they deserve the same respect and reward for what they do, and that all women should be treated fairly, these celebrities are fighting for a change to be made.
Beyonce
Beyonce wrote about equal pay: “Today, women make up half of the U.S. workforce, but the average working woman earns only 77 percent of what the average working man makes. But unless women and men both say this is unacceptable, things will not change. Men have to demand that their wives, daughters, mothers, and sisters earn more – commensurate with their qualifications and not their gender. Equality will be achieved when men and women are granted equal pay and equal respect.”
Emma Watson
Emma thinks it’s only right that she’s paid the same as males because it’s just a sign on equal respect: “I think it is right I am paid the same as my male counterparts. I think it is right that I should make decisions about my own body. I think it is right that women be involved on my behalf in the policies and decisions that affect my life. I think it is right that socially, I am afforded the same respect as men.”
Gemma Arterton
Gemma believes a change has to be made for all things to be equal: “Yeah, it is lagging behind the times. I think there’s something interesting in that we don’t like to talk about what we earn because it’s not the done thing. But actually we should because then we can say, ‘hang on a minute – that’s not right’, and challenge it. That’s part of the reason equal pay is not in place, because we are shy to speak up. That’s why, if we can anonymously get companies to publish that, we will be able to see for ourselves.”
Hilary Swank
Hilary is always shocked by how much more males can make doing the same job: “My male counterpart will get paid 10 times more than me — 10 times. Not double, but 10 times for the same job.”
Patricia Arquette
During her Oscars acceptance speech, Patricia used her moment to demand equal pay: “To every woman who gave birth, to every taxpayer and citizen of this nation, we have fought for everybody else’s equal rights,” she said. “It’s our time to have wage equality once and for all and equal rights for women in the United States of America.”
