- Share This Post
- Pin It
- 1
-
Sparkle (0)
I came across several bits of info this last week that succeeded in getting my dander up.
One... studies show that working women on average still make about 73
cents for every dollar earned by a male. How could that still be true
in this day and age??? Do we not perform as well as, in fact in many
cases better than, male workers???
Two... a record number of workers filed federal job discrimination
complaints last year, and those by older employees claiming unfair
treatment showed the largest increase. And you can bet your bottom
dollar a large percentage of those older workers were of the female
persuasion. Federal laws bar age discrimination against workers 40 and
older, but I guess a management hasn't read that clause.
Three... something that particularly galls me, being an actress well
over 40: According to a report released the other day by the Center for
the Study of Women in TV and Film at San Diego State University, women
made up only 16% of all directors, producers, writers,
cinematographers, and editors working on the country's 250
highest-grossing movies last year. That was a decline of three points
compared with 2001. The study also found that 22% of the films employed
no women in any of the above categories. When I think of how good the
two female directors I have worked with in my 40+ years in the biz I am
shocked. I worked with Nancy Meyers (The Holiday & Something’s
Gotta Give) and Cher - yes, THAT Cher - on a TV movie, If These Walls
Could Talk. They were (and ARE) both great directors!!
And look at how seldom we see all the fantastic actresses over 40:
Helen Mirren, 63; Kim Catrall, 52; Demi Moore, 46; Barbara Hershey, 60;
Angela Bassett, 48; Salma Hayek, 42; Marcia Cross, 46; Sandra Bullock,
44; Julianna Margulies, 42; Sharon Stone, 50: - and the list could go
on and on. We see them less, and in actuality they are more
interesting, more empathetic, and more fun to watch than they ever
were. Experience has made their faces and bodies more interesting and
their talent deeper. What a shame that the powers-that-be in show-biz
and in all the other realms of work are too stupid to realize this!
Judith Give-Me-More-Experienced-Women-Please Drake for In The Trenches Productions, the first entertainment website for women over 40. Cross-posted on our blog Women Over 40 Rock!
