This isn't the first time a Hollywood star has spoken out against industry injustices. Far from a world of pure glamour, women in entertainment are increasingly vocal. In 2015, Jennifer Lawrence highlighted the gender pay gap, and recently Alicia Keys rejected unrealistic beauty standards. Now, Mila Kunis has shared a powerful letter detailing her experiences with sexism. Published on Medium on November 2, 2016, the Black Swan actress recounts a producer's threat: "You'll never work in this town again." Why? She refused to pose half-naked in a men's magazine to promote her film. "What this producer will probably never realize is that he voiced out loud the fear that every woman feels when confronted with gender bias in the workplace," she writes.
These demeaning comments, which Kunis terms "microaggressions that devalue the contribution and value of hardworking women," must end. She urges women not to compromise their integrity to maintain the status quo: "I was livid, I felt like an object, and for the first time in my career, I said 'no.' Guess what? It wasn't the end of the world." Kunis also addresses the persistent wage gap, which a recent study predicts won't close for 136 years—or 170 years in some estimates. That's why she's taking action now, refusing to compromise. "From now on, when such comments are made to me, whether subtly or more explicitly, I will face them; I'll spend time answering and do my best to educate the person who voiced them," she declares. While success isn't guaranteed, this approach fosters environments ripe for change.
Kunis closes with a pointed message to that producer: "I will work again in this city, but not with you." A true mic-drop moment—bravo!
