Abstract

A herstory piece that details two components that prejudice an actress, patriarchy and inequality. The first discussion is the word “Actress” and “Diva”. The discussion around “Diva” is how the word has been vilified and dirtied to portray female performers in a bad light. Furthermore, it will discuss how the word ‘actress’ possesses prejudicial and patriarchal misogyny as well as the diminutive of the male. The second discussion is linking the abovementioned argument to how inequality amongst actresses has emerged. The first divide is gender and the next, equality. The debates in the paper will be drawn from Hollywood, which is often the benchmark of excellence in the film sector, and how the South African Film and Television (SAFT) has ascribed to Hollywood’s approach. The issues of patriarchy and misogyny persist in the television and film industry throughout the world. This is despite all the revelations of previous studies that have surfaced. This study is also informed by a Masters study I conducted in which I interviewed eleven female SAFT female practitioners on the impact of #MeToo in the SAFT sector. In line with this, I studied online commentary and interactions of the movement, studied findings of various inquests on harassment in the SAFT industry as well as existing literature, and fillings its gaps thereof. My own findings in the Masters research is that #MeToo was not impactful in the SAFT industry and that harassment still takes places, though subtly. This paper has used various online academic literature and social science literature but has identified a dire need to fill the gaps of existing literature, this paper fills the gap by offering groundbreaking and never discussed concepts in herstory and history in general. The discussions in this paper center on shedding light in the inequalities that befall women in the television sector, and suggests a new way of thinking as a way of transforming minds in how women are viewed in the sector globally.

Keywords: Patriarchy, Sexism, Misogyny, History, Inequality