A House Committee on Foreign Affairs subcommittee was convened this past Wednesday to discuss giving funding to organizations that address the issue of violence against women, both domestic and abroad. Appearing before the subcommittee in her role as spokesperson for the U.N. Development Fund for Women, or UNIFEM — which doesn’t work as an acronym because the letters don’t match up, what the hell? — Nicole Kidman offered her insight into the way that movies play into the cycle of violence.
She opined that Hollywood is “probably” responsible for perpetuating the stereotype of weak and helpless women, and thus objects of violence. However, “I can’t be responsible for all of Hollywood but I can certainly be responsible for my own career,” she said, speaking of her decision to never take roles that would have her playing such a stereotype. She also said that Hollywood has made efforts to address the issue, but didn’t specify anything in particular.
So, her message is this: Hollywood casts women as weak and helpless, except for when they give Nicole Kidman roles that aren’t weak or helpless. Hollywood exacerbates the problem with its movies, but also finds a way to help, somehow. Also, it’s not her fault, not that anyone asked. So really, not much of a statement, especially before the HFA. But looking over her career, she does seem to have managed to keep away from typical bimbo roles, which is to her credit. And there is something to be said for the argument that violent movies influence violent behavior, inasmuch as anything does. Certainly no one’s saying that violence against women doesn’t need to be addressed, and any help is better than none at all, but perhaps a more cogent argument could have been brought to bear.
Comments
KATHERINE
October 22nd, 2009 - 4:28:53 PM
It is obvious the "reporter" did not hear Kidman's testimony and instead borrowed from another person's report. The Hollywood quote was taken out of context and was a response to a question asked after her testimony. UNIFEM's message did not mention Hollywood. Only the smallest of minds at the meeting and the lower quality blogs choose to focus on that one irrelevant blurb. Talamasca also missed that UNIFEM is NOT an acronym, it is short for United Nations Femme or Woman.
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Heather
October 22nd, 2009 - 5:04:28 PM
That's a little odd - Didn't she play the role of a whore in Moulin Rouge? She was also beat and nearly raped by a man in that movie... Just a little contradictory to her statements of having "never taken roles that depicted women as hopeless and weak." I'm not even going to MENTION her role in the more recent Stepford Wives!
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