Kit Harington spoke to The Sunday Times and for some reason he talked about sexism. And this is what he offered on the subject:
“I think there is a double standard. If you said to a girl, ‘Do you like being called a babe?’ and she said, ‘No, not really,’ she’d be absolutely right. I like to think of myself as more than a head of hair or a set of looks. It’s demeaning. But there’s a sexism that happens towards men. There’s definitely a sexism in our industry that happens towards women, and there is towards men as well. At some points during photoshoots when I’m asked to strip down, I felt that. If I felt I was being employed just for my looks, I’d stop acting.”
What I think Kit is trying to say is that he feels uncomfortable when he’s being objectified. Those are his feelings so I’m not going to argue with them. However, I will challenge him on his statement that “there’s definitely a sexism in our industry that happens towards women, and there is towards men as well” because… well… it doesn’t make any sense! Sexism disadvantages women and limits their opportunity. When have you ever heard of the problem plaguing Hollywood of sexism disadvantaging men and limiting their opportunities? When have you heard that systemic, institutionalised sexism against men is resulting in a pay disparity whereby the women are chronically paid more than men? When have you heard of systemic, institutionalised sexism against men limiting their opportunities as they age, or as their bodies change, or WHEN THEY BECOME PARENTS?!?
Am I shouting? Yes I AM SHOUTING. What is he talking about?!?
Attached - Kit at BBC Radio One in London last week.
