All posts tagged: gender equality

Cate Blanchett laments that #MeToo movement ‘got killed very quickly’ in Hollywood: ‘I’m still on film sets and….’

Cate Blanchett laments that #MeToo movement ‘got killed very quickly’ in Hollywood: ‘I’m still on film sets and….’

Published by Parlour News

Actor Cate Blanchett has spoken out about how she feels that the #MeToo movement in Hollywood “got killed very quickly”, leading to issues still persisting on film sets across America. Cate Blanchett arrives for the screening of the film Garance (Another Day) at the 79th edition of the Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, southern France on May 17, 2026. (Photo by Valery HACHE / AFP) (AFP) Cate Blanchett on #MeToo in Hollywood Speaking at the Cannes Film Festival on Sunday, the two-time Oscar winner touched upon many issues in a wide-ranging staged conversation. During that conversation, Cate lamented that the tide of #MeToo has been turned in Hollywood, where she has been outspoken about gender equality. “It got killed very quickly, which I think is interesting,” said Blanchett, adding, “There are a lot of people with platforms who are able to speak up with relative safety and say this has happened to me. And the so-called average woman on the street, person on the street, is saying MeToo. Why does that get shut down?” The …

What we measure, what we miss

What we measure, what we miss

Published by Parlour News

In conversations on women’s progress, numbers often lead while meaning trails behind. Before asking how much progress has been made, we must ask what, exactly, we are measuring — and whether our words are equal to the lives they seek to describe. In cities like Delhi, where women’s educational attainment has steadily risen, the persistent gap between education and employment offers a telling contradiction — one that exposes the limits of how we read progress. Consider the ease with which we invoke the term “independent”. It appears definitive, even celebratory. On closer scrutiny, however, it is less a destination than a comparison. A woman is often described as independent not in absolute terms, but in relation to others who are more constrained — more homebound, more economically deprived, less visible in the public sphere. The label does not capture autonomy so much as it ranks positions along a continuum of constraint. It is, in this sense, a trouser-term: tailored and presentable, but cut from the fabric of relativity. This relativity is not merely semantic; it …

Beyond CSR: How corporates can build India’s social capital

Beyond CSR: How corporates can build India’s social capital

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Under the overarching umbrella of the climate crisis, food security, gender equality, and the evolution of AI, the issues that India needs to address are rapidly escalating. However, the burden of solving them remains largely with the public sector through schemes, subsidies and other critical investments. The Dasra Philanthropy Report estimates that nearly 95% of social-sector spending in India comes from the public sector. The 5% that comes from the private sector is a mixed bag of corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds, family philanthropy, corporate foundations, and donations by ultra-high-net-worth and high-net-worth individuals (UHNI/HNI). While in monetary terms, private investments amounted to $ 15 billion in 2024, they must increase if we are to effectively counter and scale viable solutions to the myriad problems the country faces. CSR CSR forms about 40% of the social spending by the private sector in India. However, it remains a largely compliance-driven space rather than one that can affect systemic change. There are several reasons for this. Due to the 2% ceiling, many companies treat it as a budgetary …

Priyanka Chopra backs Janhvi Kapoor’s message on equality with shoutout on Instagram: ‘It starts with a conversation’

Priyanka Chopra backs Janhvi Kapoor’s message on equality with shoutout on Instagram: ‘It starts with a conversation’

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Actor Priyanka Chopra is echoing Janhvi Kapoor’s views on gender equality and the importance of using one’s voice to spark conversations, debates, and encourage the younger generation to understand what equality truly means. She showed her support by giving Janhvi a shoutout on Instagram. Janhvi Kapoor was last seen in Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari, while Priyanka Chopra was seen in Heads of State. Priyanka gives shoutout to Janhvi On Friday, Priyanka reposted a video of Janhvi on her Instagram Stories, in which the actor is seen speaking about women’s equality and says there is no greater privilege than being a woman. Re-posting the video, Priyanka wrote, “It starts with a conversation so here I go. Preach Janhvi Kapoor (clapping emoj).” Priyanka’s Insta Story In the video, Janhvi is seen talking about gender equality and celebrating the strength and power of womanhood. Janhvi was talking at the We The Women Asia event, which was recently held in Mumbai. “I think it starts with conversation, it starts with debate, it starts with being able to use …

Too poor for Science? 59% of girls abandon STEM dreams due to financial constraints, reveals new study

Too poor for Science? 59% of girls abandon STEM dreams due to financial constraints, reveals new study

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As many as 59 per cent of girls have cited financial constraints as the primary reason for not pursuing STEM education beyond secondary school, according to a latest report released on April 25. The study, ‘Unlocking Potential: Financial Aid as a Catalyst for Girl’s STEM Success’ conducted by Sattva Consulting in collaboration with AISECT, highlights how the high cost of science education, limited scholarship accessibility, and lack of female role models are preventing millions of girls in India from entering STEM fields. Also Read | ONOS to bring journal access to state universities; Elsevier, Cambridge on list STEM is an acronym that stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. As many as 4,763 girls from government schools across four states—Rajasthan, Punjab, Jharkhand, and Madhya Pradesh were surveyed for the study. The study, released over a webinar on April 25, employed a mixed-methods research approach, combining quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews to understand the financial barriers preventing girls from pursuing STEM education. As many as 4,763 girls from government schools across four states—Rajasthan, Punjab, Jharkhand, and …

Tamannaah Bhatia opens up on gender equality: ‘There’s too much of a struggle to empower us’ | Bollywood

Tamannaah Bhatia opens up on gender equality: ‘There’s too much of a struggle to empower us’ | Bollywood

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The entertainment industry’s gradual shift towards gender equality and pay parity has been a welcome change, according to Tamannaah Bhatia. However, she feels there’s too much of a struggle to empower women with a constant need to outline that “we are women and that we are struggling”. Also read: Amid wedding buzz, Vijay Varma and Tamannaah Bhatia part ways: Report Tamannaah Bhatia will soon be seen in the upcoming supernatural thriller Odela 2. (Instagram) In an interview with Hindustan Times, actor Tamannaah gets candid about being a woman in showbiz and balancing her career in Bollywood and South India. On gender equality in showbiz When it comes to gender equality and pay parity, Tamannaah advocates for women to take ownership of their empowerment, embracing their individuality and inspiring others to do the same. “It’s getting better. It definitely is getting better a lot. There’s some part of the wokeness that’s working very well for us. The women need to own up to their selves,” Tamannaah tells us. She adds, “I think we are fighting too …

“When Women Uplift Each Other, Magic Happens” – Shantanu Maheshwari

“When Women Uplift Each Other, Magic Happens” – Shantanu Maheshwari

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Shantanu Maheshwari started his career as a dancer with shows like Jhalak Dikhala Jaa, Nach Baliye 9, and Khatron Ke Khiladi. He is known for his dancing skills. He got recognition with director Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Gangubai Kathiawadi. Recently he was praised for his amazing performance in Neeraj Pandey’s Auron Mei Kahan Dum Tha. On women’s day in an exclusive chat with Filmfare he spoke about what he learnt from women in his life and also how they changed his life in a better way. Who is the most inspiring woman in your life, and what makes her special? I would say my mother kyonki maa maa hoti hai.Then I would say my best friend Palki Malhotra. She has really helped me to be myself.  And what makes it special is like her unwavering support, in strengthening me, in her ability to uplift people around. She has taught me resilience and the importance of believing in myself, no matter the circumstances, you can come up with something or the other. You just have to believe in yourself, …

Hollywood hits a major milestone: 2024 had as many movies with female protagonists as male protagonists | Hollywood

Hollywood hits a major milestone: 2024 had as many movies with female protagonists as male protagonists | Hollywood

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The conversation surrounding gender equality in Hollywood has been a longstanding one, with industry stakeholders pushing for greater representation and inclusivity over the past few years. Now, it appears that this dialogue is finally translating into a change. Also read: Women continue to lag in entertainment industry Pixar’s Inside Out 2 emerged as the highest-grossing film of 2024. In a significant breakthrough, the film industry achieved a major milestone in 2024, as the percentage of top-grossing films featuring female protagonists reached parity with the percentage of films boasting male protagonists, marking a historic first in recent history. Hollywood hits a milestone According to the latest installment of Dr. Martha Lauzen‘s annual It’s a Man’s (Celluloid) World report, 42% of the 100 top-grossing films domestically had female protagonists while another 42% had male protagonists. As per Deadline, the remaining 16% featured ensembles. As per Hollywood Reporter, two more studies, one conducted at the University of Southern California’s Annenberg Inclusion Initiative and one at San Diego State University’s Center for the Study of Women in Television and …

Stars In The City: Sanya Malhotra says she has ‘no time’ to get married, reveals how life’s been after Aankh went viral

Stars In The City: Sanya Malhotra says she has ‘no time’ to get married, reveals how life’s been after Aankh went viral

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“When I read the script of Mrs, I could see myself in it,” said actor Sanya Malhotra, during a recent edition of HT City’s Stars In The City. Sanya Malhotra As she gears up for the upcoming release of Mrs on Zee5, the actor opened up about what drew her to the films and its themes of gender equality and patriarchy. In a candid conversation with Sonal Kalra, Chief Managing Editor, Entertainment and Lifestyle, Hindustan Times, Sanya explained, “I haven’t faced the same challenges as my character Richa, but I have seen her in my mother, my sister, and in women around me. I’m hoping after watching it, people will realise that some things need to change.” Also read: Sanya Malhotra: I look best when I style myself ‘Feminism is for everyone’ Would the film’s message then be unfair to men who are supportive of the women in their lives? Sanya asserted, “People keep forgetting that feminism includes both men and women. Patriarchy also puts a lot of pressure on men. When we were prepping …

National Girl Child Day: Rahul Gandhi calls for ensuring girls’ secure future | Education

National Girl Child Day: Rahul Gandhi calls for ensuring girls’ secure future | Education

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Lok Sabha LOP and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday emphasised the responsibility to prepare girls for a ‘bright and secure future’ on National Girl Child Day. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge underscored the significance of gender equality in progress and stated that the Congress-led UPA government established National Girl Child Day in 2008. (Sanjeev Kumar/HT) In a post on X, Rahul said that daughters are the symbol of strength, courage and dedication. “Daughters are the symbol of strength, courage and dedication; they are full of hopes and aspirations for their better tomorrow,” he said in his post. Also Read: International Day of Education 2025: Date, history, significance, theme “It is our responsibility to prepare a bright and secure future for them, take a pledge to give full rights to half the population,” his post further reads. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge underscored the significance of gender equality in progress and stated that the Congress-led UPA government established National Girl Child Day in 2008. “Gender equality is the basis of true progress,” he said in a post …