Are we equal?

Celebrities are doing great things for violence-against-women campaigning. Actors/actresses, musicians, politicians and sports people hold a prominent position in the media and as role models for today’s youth, and this issue is both very serious, and (in some cases) very much disregarded as an issue. 

The Pixel Project's "16 For 16" Campaign, “16 days of activism against gender violence while raising funds for the cause to end violence against women”, offered examples of celebrities who have supported, and helped raise awareness of the cause. The big names included the likes of powerful female superstars; Oprah Winfrey, Reece Witherspoon, and Australia’s own Nicole Kidman. However, some of the most impacting campaigners were prominent male figures. 

It is so important for men and even young boys to have positive role models who can express the issues present in society, including those which are sometimes hard to talk about. In this case, Daniel Craig, notably recognised as the renowned character, James Bond, advises the male population that it is okay to be an advocate of female rights; to be against violent acts towards women; and that it is possible to do so whilst maintaining that 'masculine' persona they most desperately must upkeep. The video mentioned below was produced by Daniel Craig for free, reminding viewers of the gender inequality that is still present today. It invokes the powerful message that although many believe that women are now equal, perhaps there is still a lot of work to be done in order for society to become completely balanced;

“Famed for his role as James Bond, Daniel Craig showed his support for women’s human rights and equality on March 11^th of this year, International Women’s Day, by featuring in a short film, Are we equal? created by Equality Now. Beginning the short film as James Bond, ‘the great lover of women’, he finishes the film in drag. Stepping into a woman’s shoes, he demonstrates the realities of being a woman in today’s world.”

So, are we equals? Until the answer is yes, we must never stop asking.
- Emmalie