Emily Ratajkowski has said that critics who see a conflict between her feminism and her sexual confidence are prejudiced.
The actress, who found fame when she danced topless in the video for Robin Thicke’s 2013 single Blurred Lines, said people find it hard to understand how she can be a feminist and also confident in her sexuality.
She told Grazia magazine: “It’s sexism, basically. I think there’s a valid argument behind the idea that sexiness is patriarchal, and that’s problematic.
Lol never said my love video was a feminist statement. But now it’s worth saying that telling women what to do with their bodies & sexuality is actually just classic sexism. I️ can have opinions about feminism & also do sexy photo shoots k thanks
— Emily Ratajkowski (@emrata) December 7, 2017
“But that being said, it can be really limiting to young women who feel like that’s their self-expression; someone telling them that they can’t do that is suppressing.”
She added: “It’s not taking people seriously because of how they present themselves, which women get a lot more than men.
“People try to put women in boxes and stereotype them as one thing. There’s a need, even as a woman, to become a certain ‘type’ of girl.
“But I feel extremely multifaceted. One moment I can be super-silly with my friends, and the next minute I feel like the sexiest woman in the world.
“And that to me doesn’t change what my core ideals are, or what I have to say. Just because someone can be sexual doesn’t mean they can’t be serious.”
Ratajkowski, who has appeared in films such as Gone Girl, Entourage and We Are Your Friends, said the reaction to other actresses sharing their stories of sexual harassment has been positive but is just the beginning.
She told the magazine: “I think #MeToo was an amazing moment, but I really think the next step is “I believe you”.
“I don’t know any women who felt necessarily surprised that everyone had a #MeToo [story].
“To really organise and make a change is beyond sharing your stories. It’s a step in the right direction, but there’s so much more to be done.”
