The case of Eva Green proves that only women are still villains for being ‘rude’

youTo be fair, no one wants to be called a “s****y redneck.” But that’s exactly how French actress Eva Green referred to the crew workers on the discarded film set. a patriot, according to texts read at the National Court. Green, known to many as the “Bond girl” of Royal Casinois currently in the middle of a legal battle over his fee for a patriot, a science fiction thriller in which he would play a soldier. The film was canceled in October 2019, but Green wants his £810,000 anyway. white lantern movies, a patriotThe producer of , is countersuing the actress and has cited instances where she was “rude” to weaken her case. She’s not surprised, as being “rude” is an offense that is often considered much more sinful when applied to women.

Green apologized for his language, offering his “Frenchness” as an explanation for his abrupt turns of phrase. Meanwhile, her legal representative has argued that she had genuine concerns about safety and quality, and Green’s portrayal as a “diva” is being unfairly used to blame her for the film’s collapse, telling the court: ” This case is designed to paint my client as a diva in order to gain headlines and damage her reputation.”

Green’s use of his nationality as an excuse for his caustic manner makes for amusing news. But there is, perhaps, a broader point to note about the argument he is making about him: that his perceived rudeness could undermine his profession. Why is the idea of ​​”rudeness” treated so much more seriously and with more damaging consequences when it relates to a woman than to a man?

The importance of not being “rude” is ingrained in many girls before they can form their first words. You care about your P’s and Q’s, don’t refuse hugs, and never challenge an adult’s opinion. Avoiding the label “rude” often means not expressing disagreement, expressing discomfort, or masking negative feelings to put others at ease. Boys can be taught the same, but gender stereotypes give them the freedom to be “boisterous” or abrupt without as much opposition. And when they become adults, this double standard results in the word “rude” being used as a weapon against women.

To clarify, this is not a piece that defends the right to be horrible to others. In fact, the workplace, an environment filled with imposed hierarchies and different power dynamics, is a place where “rudeness” is particularly inappropriate. Natural disagreements and bad days are normal, but a colleague’s aggressive behavior should be challenged. However, it is just as important to ensure that women no longer face harsher social consequences for the same behaviors.

Accusations that James Corden was unsympathetic to restaurant staff may have led to a ban from the New York establishment Balthazar, but they didn’t get in the way of his two Creative Arts Emmys, nor the late show other performance concerts and host presentation. In 2008, Christian Bale launched an expletive-filled tirade at a crew member on the set of Terminator Salvation. Three years later, he won his first Academy Award and has since been nominated for three more. Mel Gibson still has a thriving career, even though his years of controversy are well documented.

When men are criticized for being “rude,” their careers remain intact. The same cannot be said across the gender divide. Take Katherine Heigl for example: despite being popular in the mid-1990s, her star began to fade after she was removed from Emmy consideration in 2008, calling the quality of Grey’s Anatomy stories in question. The following year, she told David Letterman about the “cruel and mean” 17-hour workdays on the set of the medical drama. This, in addition to calling his role in the 2007 sitcom Pregnant “a bit sexist” contributed to Heigl being effectively blacklisted from the industry for a decade.

In January, Sarah Michelle Gellar said the independent about how whispers that she took pride in her work meant she was labeled “difficult” in the early stages of her career. “In Hollywood, and when you’re specifically a young woman and you talk about things, you get labeled ‘difficult,’” she explained. “But now I’ll wear it with pride, if ‘difficult’ means I expect everyone to come in with their 100 percent A game.”

When “rude” is attributed to black women, the results can be even more brutal. Racist stereotypes that paint black women and girls as “naturally aggressive” mean that traits like calm and shy are mistaken for toughness, no matter how hard we try to be assertive. After opting out of certain promotional events for the 2009 film Beautifulactor and comedian Mo’Nique claimed she was “locked out” of the industry after director Lee Daniels told her she wasn’t “playing the game”.

It goes without saying that when someone truly makes a colleague’s experience hell, they should be reprimanded accordingly. At the same time, women should have the right to be open about their issues and opinions, without fear of reprisals if that openness is misinterpreted.

Whether Green’s conduct during the time she was involved in the film has an effect on the outcome of the High Court decision remains to be seen, but an examination of why rudeness can be used as a jab at women’s characters is forthcoming. very late.