Jane Fonda, star of the hit web-television series “Grace and Frankie” alongside Lily Tomlin reveals that she is a rape and sexual abuse survivor.
In an interview with Academy Award winner Brie Larson published in Net-a-porter Magazine, Fonda shared her experiences as a child growing up in a “patriarchal belief system.” Fonda expressed to Larson that she felt “diminished”, given that she grew up in the 50’s where feminism was not as popular or appreciated as it is now.
Fonda then continued and said, “I’ve been raped, I’ve been sexually abused as a child and I’ve been fired because I wouldn’t sleep with my boss.” She also confessed to have believed that the abuse was her fault, later disclosing that the Women’s Movement has helped her [and other survivors] realize that rape and abuse is not their fault.
The Golden Globe winner has been a long-time activist for Women’s rights. In fact, just early this year, she lead the “Women’s March” against President Donald Trump in Downtown Los Angeles. In addition, she is a supporter of the Rape Foundation and Rape Treatment Centre in Los Angeles, as well as the V-Day movement, which works towards stopping violence against women and girls.
Furthermore, Fonda sheds light on the issue of rape culture and victim-shaming. She states, “I know young girls who’ve been raped and didn’t even know it was rape. They think it must have been because I said “no” the wrong way.”
Fonda and Larson also discuss the issue of the pay gap which still exists in America. Fonda reveals that she “never got paid a huge amount of money – I never thought I was worth it.” She continues, “For me, it was just the way things were. Guys earned more.”
With the ever present notion of rape culture and victim blaming, it is critical as a human race to stop normalizing rape and abuse and begin to support the courageous survivors and help get their voices heard. Like Fonda and Larson, celebrities, both men and women must speak up and show their support to the movement in order to achieve actual change.
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