Women have been disrespected, mocked, and hated for centuries including the Salem Witch Trials, women’s suffrage, and misogyny in the workplace. No matter how hard they work and how much they achieve, they are still put down and belittled. While the world may think the discrimination has died down, as they earn more achievements, it continues to intensify.
At the 2024 Golden Globes, host Jo Koy went out of his way to make inappropriate jokes towards women. In his opening monologue, Koy remarks, “Oppenheimer is based on a 721-page Pulitzer Prize-winning book about the Manhattan Project, and Barbie is on a plastic doll with big boobies.” Barbie, the highest-grossing film of 2023, touched women all over the world and made them feel a little less alone. The movie also had the biggest opening weekend of the year, beating Oppenheimer by a considerable margin. A man making a disgusting comment about Barbie’s body further proves that we are only going backward.
Greta Gerwig, writer and director of Barbie, eventually responded to Jo Koy’s comment. “Well, he’s not wrong,” Gerwig says. “She’s the first doll that was mass-produced with breasts, so he was right on. And you know, I think that so much of the project, of the movie, was unlikely because it is about a plastic doll.” She also says that since ‘Barbie’ has little to no story attached to it, it inspired her to be more creative with the movie.
Koy’s inappropriate jokes about Barbie made me wonder if he truly watched it. The movie’s whole point is to shed light on how women are treated in society. It was a staple for feminism and opened many people’s eyes. Comments solely about how ‘Barbie’ looked in the movie just prove the main idea even more.
Following the Golden Globes, Ryan Gosling was nominated for an Oscar for “Best Supporting Actor” for Barbie. In my opinion, this is extremely ironic because he is literally a man. Considering the movie’s theme and plot, Gosling being nominated over Margot Robbie AND Greta Gerwig is almost comical.
Gosling’s reaction to his nomination first showed gratitude but eventually questioned why his castmates did not get nominated. He says, “To say that I’m disappointed that they are not nominated in their respective categories would be an understatement.” He also adds, “Their work should be recognized along with the other very deserving nominees.”
The Golden Globes and Gosling’s Oscar nomination are just one of the million examples of women being publicly embarrassed. Successful women have been humiliated countless times, even if they did nothing to deserve it. Even after they prove themselves time and time again, they still are treated as if they are less than their male peers.
Being a young woman in 2024, I even feel afraid to share my success with others due to the humiliation I might receive. Daily I hear inappropriate and sexist comments from the men in my life. It is unfair that we are just as successful as men, yet we are still brought down for no reason. If this doesn’t change soon, men will continue getting away with sexism and injustice.
Disclaimer: Articles designated as “Editorial” represent the views and opinions of the author, not the 2023-2024 Periscope staff, CHS/CASD administration, or the CHS student body.
