Rose McGowan Is Sick Of Hollywood’s Double Standards

Actress and feminist Rose McGowan on sexism in Hollywood and how to fix it.

A big study out this month finds less than a third of speaking or named parts in Hollywood’s top-grossing films go to women. For many women, especially women in the business, that won’t do. At the front of the line of critics lately is actress and director Rose McGowan. You know her from "Scream," "Jawbreaker," "Grindhouse."  The TV show "Charmed."  Her own new film, "Dawn."  BuzzFeed calls her Hollywood’s new feminist whistleblower. McGowan says she’s just had enough.This hour On Point:  Rose McGowan and more on sex, gender, and the Hollywood dream factory now.
-- Tom Ashbrook

Rose McGowan, actress and director. Director of the new short film, "Dawn." Known for her roles in "Charmed," "Scream" and many others. (@rosemcgowan)

Kelsey McKinney, culture staff writer for Fusion. (@mckinneykelsey)

Ann Hornaday, movie critic for the Washington Post. (@annhornaday)

BuzzFeed News: Rose McGowan Is Starting A Revolution — "The difficulties women have had navigating Hollywood permeate every part of the business, from writers rooms to directors’ chairs to below-the-line production jobs — and, of course, to acting, which can be rife with the most corrosively age-obsessed, looks-conscious, and sexualized aspects of film and television. But lately, there seems to be a rise in female actors’ candor about and resistance to standard practices."

Vox: Hollywood's devastating gender divide, explained — "When we think of Hollywood, we think of women in large meticulously designed dresses on red carpets giving anecdotes about their upcoming movie or who made their jewelry. We think of love stories and galas and Marilyn Monroe in that white dress, and Audrey Hepburn in her pearls. But women aren't really the heart of Hollywood; they aren't even half. On the red carpet, women are the stars of America's film industry, but on the screen they only star in 15 percent of films. And that percentage hasn't gotten any better since the 1930s."

USC Media, Diversity and Social Change Initiative: Inequality In 700 Popular Films — "In 2014, no female actors over 45 years of age performed a lead or co lead role. Only three of the female actors in lead or co lead roles were from underrepresented racial/ethnic backgrounds. No female leads or co leads were Lesbian or Bisexual characters."