It is easy to feel detached and uninvolved in issues involving discrimination if you’re not in one of the communities affected. However, everyone has a part to play in these issues. The definition of an ally is just that: standing by a community that you are not a part of and working to support them regardless. Allies are necessary for change, no matter the issue, and they can make a sizable difference.
Jennifer Lawrence recently spoke out on pay inequality in Hollywood and got a mixed reaction. Past co-stars Bradley Cooper and Josh Hutcherson responded with messages of support, with Cooper vowing to tell his female co-stars what his salary is so they can leverage it in negotiation.
Proactive allies are key in achieving equality. When it comes to addressing pay discrimination, secrecy can prevent women from being able to complain about their salaries because they don’t know what others are being paid. Despite her success, Lawrence continues to be paid less than her male counterparts.
Acknowledging a problem is not enough. Active support is the only thing that can bring about true change. That means advocating on behalf of women, not just sympathizing with their plight.
Making the process more transparent gives women the information necessary to fight for equal pay. This doesn’t mean women can’t help themselves, but male feminists can have a role in increasing awareness. In fact, Amy Schumer recently negotiated a raise for herself on her next movie, but not all women might feel comfortable doing this considering the potential backlash.
Lawrence’s essay also received less-than-stellar responses. It’s easy to push off responsibility and say it’s "not your job" — just like Jeremy Renner did, despite recognizing women are paid less than men.
David O. Russell, a director who has worked with Lawrence numerous times, also brushed aside her complaints as part of what happens in Hollywood, despite supporting the "spirit" of her essay. While it’s nice they see her point, their messages of support are actually pretty condescending. It’s as if they meant to say, "You want equal pay. How adorable!"
When men are the ones in positions of power, they have control over how much each person is paid, directly or indirectly. When in these positions of power, there is little to no benefit for them to advocate for others with their jobs on the line.
Similarly, a few weeks ago, Matt Damon thought it was OK to tell a black woman how to make Hollywood more diverse, failing to understand the importance of increasing diversity every step of the way, from directors, producers and actors to key grips. Often, breaking stereotypes comes from within. The points of view of the marginalized are best represented when there are others like them working behind the scenes who can recognize the harmfulness of stereotypes.
Being an ally can be tough if you’re not sure exactly how to help a community. Part of having privilege means not having to think about it and just enjoying the benefits. One key thing to remember is to listen and not talk over people who experience discrimination. Don’t tell a person of color how to solve racism and don’t tell a woman to combat sexism by being more aggressive. Start by recognizing privilege and seeing how institutional power influences your experience in the world.
Nicole Dan is a UF political science sophomore. Her column appears on Mondays.
