By Kate RicciardiSPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE
“Who are you wearing?” is the age-old red carpet question. The real question is “Why does it matter?”
Women in the entertainment industry are more than just pretty faces in pretty dresses. It’s time for the media to ask them more. Women are capable of answering more in depth questions. It’s time for society to compel the media to ask more.
It is traditional for celebrities to be asked who designed their red carpet fashion choices. Yes, it is good to credit the designer, but that shouldn’t be the only thing that women on the red carpet address.
Award shows honor and commend people for their achievements. Red carpet interviews are supposed to acquire more information about a certain performance.
Occasionally, male celebrities get asked who they are wearing, but these questions are often then followed by more pressing questions about their accomplishments. Typically, women do not have the opportunity to share deeper perspectives on their work or industry. Women have the ability to answer more.
The Representation Project, an organization that advocates for gender equality, launched the #AskHerMore social media campaign this past award season. This campaign encouraged viewers to take to Twitter and implore reporters to ask female celebrities important questions.
The job of a reporter is to get information that is worth sharing. For red carpet reporters, the name of a designer is not the only information worth sharing about female celebrities.
Reporters should ask women in the entertainment industry questions like, “How did you prepare for this role?” “ What prompted you to take on this role?” or “What kind of lasting impact does this character have on you personally?”
Seeing female celebrities take part in deeper conversations on national television is important for people to see because these women are role models. Women contributing to intelligent discussions serves as an example for young women. It shows that they are more than their appearance. It’s empowering to see women being treated the same as men.
Reporters covering the red carpet have to start asking female celebrities more hard-hitting questions about the work for which they are being awarded. As a society, we are demanding more. We want more information. We need more information. “What are you wearing?” just isn’t cutting it anymore.
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