Jennifer Lawrence finds How She Feels in regards to the American Hustle Gender Pay gap

Jennifer Lawrence say she used to be too involved about being “likable” to barter for equal pay.

by means of Lydia Dishman

October 13, 2015

Jennifer Lawrence desires you to grasp she isn’t difficult or spoiled. however she used to be involved that’s how she would come throughout if she fought for a similar compensation her male costars got in American Hustle.

In a short essay in Lena Dunham’s newsletter Lenny, Lawrence admits she’s stayed out of the conversation on feminism as a result of she normally doesn’t prefer to weigh in on “trending” subject matters. “but with quite a lot of talk comes exchange,” she writes, and proceeds to detail the reasoning at the back of her stance—or lack thereof.

associated: Is Lena Dunham’s New newsletter Lenny What Feminism needs Now?

Lawrence discovered the pay hole in the aftermath of the Sony hack ultimate December, which printed quite a lot of delicate data from passwords of social media accounts to greater than forty seven,000 Social safety numbers and different private information on current and former staff and celebrities.

The breach also created a obstacle amongst Sony’s ranks, revealing knowledge that some, specifically co-chair Amy Pascal, would have most popular to remain deeply buried. one of those objects was once the disparity in compensation between Jennifer Lawrence, Amy Adams, Bradley Cooper, and Christian Bale—a full two points (trade parlance for a share of the revenue pool) less for the women than the men.

The day-to-day Beast record discovered that the hack additionally uncovered a gender pay hole among Sony workers. amongst 17 of the 6,000 workers making over $1 million, only one is a lady.

Lawrence says when she came upon “how so much much less I was once being paid than the lucky folks with dicks,” she received mad. At herself. “I failed as a negotiator because I gave up early,” Lawrence writes. “I didn’t need to keep combating over hundreds of thousands of bucks that, frankly, because of two franchises, I don’t need.”

however it’s now not near to need, Lawrence continues. She didn’t negotiate as a result of she believed that may set her up to be seen in a foul light and she or he simply needed to be appreciated—a component of her personality she admits she’s fought in opposition to, however continues to combat with.

we know she’s not on my own. From Sheryl Sandberg, who sees success and likability as a exchange-off for ladies, to Oprah, who doesn’t consider herself a businesswoman regardless of her status as the usa’s first self-made black female billionaire, ladies proceed to downplay their achievements and try to keep up a correspondence in as non-threatening a technique as imaginable.

the outcome, sadly in many instances, is that you simply don’t get what you don’t ask for. Pascal subsequently explained in an interview:

I’ve paid [Jennifer Lawrence] a lot more money on the grounds that then, I promise you . . . here’s the problem: I run a trade. people wish to work for less cash, I pay them less money . . . women shouldn’t work for much less cash. They will have to comprehend what they’re price. girls shouldn’t take less. stop, you don’t want the job that bad.

Negotiating is uncomfortable for many. but gender plays favorites and there’s a larger social price to pay when ladies perspective for better compensation. A ballot from Levo’s professional network found that 66% of virtually 200 women usual a proposal without negotiating any aspect of it.

Lawrence also realizes males don’t face that same challenge. “each man I was working with for sure didn’t concern about being “tough” or “spoiled,” she writes. And why would they, once they get a lot positive reinforcement? A latest analysis of a group of about 250 efficiency opinions for women and men printed that criticism used to be doled out more often to women, and it was once much less optimistic and extra personal. as an instance: “that you may come throughout as abrasive from time to time. i do know you don’t imply to, but you wish to take note of your tone.”

Lawrence continues to expertise this. She recounts an episode the place she shared her opinion in a “clear and no-bullshit method; no aggression, simply blunt.” His response? “Whoa! We’re all on the same staff here!” Lawrence says that despite seeing the lads she works with share their opinions all day long, when she’s spoken up with her personal in the same manner, she’s perceived as offensive.

“I’m over trying to find the ‘adorable’ way to state my opinion and still be likable!” Lawrence writes. “I don’t think I’ve ever labored for a man in cost who hung out considering what attitude he must use to have his voice heard. It’s just heard.”

For Lawrence, as it is for a lot of ladies, the educational curve is steep. Even on this discussion board that should be protected and supportive, Lawrence still sounds excited by being “likable.” She prefaced her message with, “I need to be sincere and open and, fingers crossed, not piss any person off.”