Apart from pay inequality, one of the main topics of discussion in modern society regards feminism. However, most people, especially men, see feminism as a sort of rebel movement, in which women struggle to show that they are better than men and should be treated preferentially.
But this is not what feminism means! Feminism is only about the whole world acknowledging that women are powerful and should have the same rights as men. Historically, this hasn't always been the case, but today we are living the best times, from this point of view. Just think that, not even a hundred years ago, most women didn't even have the right to vote, let alone work side by side with men.
In our industry, women are the stars, YOU are the star! And we will tell you a secret:
you are a feminist, even though you didn't think this about yourself until now. Because today, being a feminist doesn't mean shoving this fact into men's face, but being aware that all men and women are equal, and being grateful that society has evolved up to this point.
Here's what the famous poet and civil rights activist Maya Angelou had to say about this topic: "I'm a feminist. I've been a female for a long time now. It'd be stupid not to be on my own side". It's that simple! You are a woman, therefore you are a feminist because you believe and support yourself.
And not only you: men can be feminists too! Actually, from our point of view, every person in the world who has liberal views can call himself or herself a feminist. "It's high time that we all see gender as a spectrum rather than two sets of opposing ideals.
We should stop defining each other by what we are not and start defining ourselves by who we are", says actress and activist Emma Watson. "I'd like every man who doesn't call himself a feminist to explain to the women in his life why he doesn't believe in equality for women", points out actress and writer Louise Brealey, known for "Containment" and "Sherlock".
"I do not wish women to have power over men, but over themselves", the famous writer Mary Shelley once said. And this is exactly what we teach the models in our agency: that they don't need a man in order to feel powerful, as they can stand on their own two feet and
make enough money in order to fulfill all their dreams and expectations.
"I think every woman in our culture is a feminist. They may refuse to articulate it, but if you were to take any woman back 40 years and say, 'Is this a world you want to live in?', they would say NO" - this is one of the most powerful feminist quotes and it comes from actress Helen Mirren (she didn't play the Queen for nothing).
Last but not least, writer and director Lena Dunham put it very well: "The idea of being a feminist, so many women have come to this idea of it being anti-male and not able to connect with the opposite sex, but what feminism is about is equality and human rights". Amen to that!