Jennifer Lawrence, Rihanna and Taylor Swift, three powerful women in the music and entertainment industry, spoke about the concept of ‘Power’ and what lessons they have learnt during their journey.
The thoughts were specifically about women in the race and power game that is generally more difficult in a male- and white-dominated society.
Jennifer Lawrence wrote an essay for Lena Dunham’s newsletter Lenny in which she candidly showcased her ire when she found out from a leak that her male co-stars in ‘American Hustle’ including Christian Bale, Jeremy Renner and Bradley Cooper were paid more than she was, reported Washington Post.
She said that when she heard of these updates, she was angry with herself more than anybody. She wrote in the essay, ‘I got mad at myself. I failed as a negotiator because I gave up early. I didn’t want to keep fighting over millions of dollars that, frankly, due to two franchises, I don’t need’.
However, Jennifer Lawrence added that quite frankly the reason she gave up so early was that need to be liked that made her decide to give in early during the negotiations without putting up a fight. She didn’t want to come across as ‘spoilt’ or ‘difficult’.
The ‘Hunger Games’ star went on to write about a common issue faced by women. When a woman talks authoritatively, she is considered ‘difficult’ and when a man speaks in the same manner, he is just called authoritative. She wrote that she has had enough to playing the ‘please-all’ role.
Rihanna spoke to Miranda July, the author/director, in an interview with New York Times, which covered myriad topics including childbirth, music, etc. During this interview, July asked Rihanna her opinions on race and power.
July wanted to know how it is being a young black woman with abundant power in America. She, however, felt that Rihanna was probably a wrong candidate for the question as she is ‘postracial’ now. Hence, she asked RiRi to reflect on her past and tell her how she felt when she was made to be aware of her race when she first moved to New York.
The ‘Diamonds’ singer replied that she started experience the ‘race’ difference only during negotiations of business deals which means that people are fine with a young black woman dancing, singing, looking and partying. However, when brokering a deal, she is made aware of her race.
Rihanna added, ‘And, you know, that never ends, by the way. It’s still a thing. And it’s that thing that makes me want to prove people wrong.’ The anger she feels for such attitude is so much that it almost excites her to show them the unexpected and go beyond the perceptions that they already have regarding her.
Taylor Swift came out in the open during Chuck Klosterman’s cover story for GQ regarding the issue of power. During the course of the story, one aspect seems to have made the ‘Bad Blood’ singer bristle with anger. Klosterman referred to a time when one of her acquaintances dubbed her ‘calculating’. The interview said that Swift really hates the word and the fact that the phrase has got stuck to her image.
She retorted, ‘Am I shooting from the hip?’ If she was ‘shooting from the hip’ without thinking things through, would all the success have come to her the way it has. Taylor Swift further said that she is happy the referred acquaintance spoke about something positive that she thinks about things and that she cares for her work and hence plays tough business games well.
Swift added that one can be successful for 3-4 years, accidentally; however, careers demand hard work. She means to say that she is tired of people writing and talking about her by linking her good business sense to her personal life.
