Salma Hayek Blasts Gender Gap in Hollywood: ‘We’re Not Going Away at 30’

Posted by NALIP on October 09, 2015

 salma-hayak-power-of-women-speech.jpgROB LATOUR/VARIETY/REX SHUTTERSTOCK

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Salma Hayek Pinault gave a stirring speech at Variety‘s Power of Women luncheon on Friday at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons.

Hayek recalled fearing the move from Mexico to Hollywood only to be pleasely surprised by the women she found surrounded with in the industry.

Hayek Pinault dedicated the majority of the speech to the Hollywood gender gap. “They cannot ignore us anymore,” she said.

“We are the generation that said, ‘We’re not going away at 30,'” she said to uproarious applause.

Hayek Pinault co-founded Chime for Change with Beyonce and international fashion powerhouse Gucci in 2013.

“In only two years … we have affected 3 million families and communities,” she said.

The campaign supports nongovernmental agencies with the mission of empowering women and girls around the world through initiatives focused on education, health and justice. Chime for Change has so far raised $7.3 million with 153 nonprofit partners to fund projects in 88 countries, benefiting 400,000 women and girls.

She said Chime for Change is launching a new initiative called Chime for the Children of Syria. “We are experiencing the biggest refuge crisis since the Second World War,” she said.

“We are a fantastic generation,” she added. “I could not have made it without the women who gave me the strength today. For all of you who don’t know what Chime for Change is, it is a call for everyone to use social media for social justice.”

Women represent 50% of the population and 66% of the work force, but “only get 10% of the income of the world.

“This is really really sad and tragic,” she said. “In the 20 years I have been an activist for women. I can smell the airs of change. Especially in this industry for the first time.”

“These romantic comedies are not working anymore. Why? We changed!,” she said as the crowd clapped. “I think that this is the true part of equality. Not only we can make us March but when we can speak as loud and really have the freedom to be ourselves.”

 

Check this out at Variety.com