Pay attention, gentlemen! Mark Ruffalo, Ryan Gosling, and other prominent males in Hollywood have consistently defended their female colleagues and used their platforms to come out in support of feminism and gender equality.
The 13 Going On 30 actor is an outspoken supporter of a few hot-button causes — and he isn’t scared to face retribution for voicing his opinion. While promoting Avengers: Age of Ultron, Ruffalo advocated for more female-led comic book storylines and uplifting depictions of female superheroes.
“I believe part of the problem is that people are frustrated that they want to see more women in superhero films doing more things, and because we don’t have as many women as we should yet, they’re extremely sensitive to every single story line that comes up right now,” Ruffalo said during a Reddit AMA in May 2015, as the film faced backlash for how it portrayed Black Widow (played by Scarlett Johansson). “When we do that with a woman, because there are so few female narrative lines, we become hyper-critical of every move we make, since there is little else to compare it to. The fact that this is a point of contention that has arisen as a result of this film is probably a good thing.”
The Spotlight actor is no stranger to giving back with his platform. Gosling, for his part, attributes his activism to his family.
“I believe that women are superior to males. “They are stronger, more evolved,” the La La Land actor told the Evening Standard in June 2016, referring to his daughters Esmeralda and Amada with Eva Mendes. “You can notice this most clearly when you have daughters and observe their early phases; they are instantly leaps and bounds ahead of boys.”
Gosling stated that “it is our turn as men” to take up and act as allies in the fight for gender equality. While utilizing their voices to advocate for a cause is a strong move, Matt McGorry of Orange Is the New Black urges his male friends and coworkers to listen more than they talk.
“Celebrities get a lot of credibility on these topics, and as a male speaking out, it’s easier for me to receive credit for standing up than it is for people who are genuinely affected,” he joked in 2017, adding, “I don’t need to be lecturing to women about feminism.”
Continue scrolling to see some of the most inspirational comments from prominent male feminists.
Chris Evans
While he is most recognized for his role as a superhero in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the native of Massachusetts is an outstanding ally off-screen. “The most difficult thing to reconcile is that just because you have good intentions does not mean it is your time to speak,” he told The New York Times in March 2018, noting that he’d learned that listening to women’s stories and reading feminist literature was a powerful way to show support during the rise of the #MeToo movement.
Tom Hardy
While promoting Mad Max: Fury Road at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival, the British actor deflected a sexist question from a reviewer. When asked how it felt to work alongside “all these ladies” in a film that was “supposed to be a man’s movie,” Hardy stated that he had no reservations about his involvement in the uplifting action film. “Not for a single moment,” he said.
Kelsey Grammer
“Oh, my goodness. Yes, I have always identified as a feminist “In November 2015, the Frasier alum told The Cut. “I believe that feminism is just being proud and at ease in one’s own skin as a woman, as well as a guy being at ease in his own flesh. That is how I deal with it. I am a staunch advocate for women.”
Joshua Bassett
Following the release of songs with similar ideas by the lead of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, his Disney+ co-star Olivia Rodrigo, and Sabrina Carpenter, fans immediately speculated on the possibility of a tragic love triangle. Joshua Bassett clarified the record in a GQ feature after being bombarded with queries about his relationship status and which song was about whom.
The vocalist of “Lie Lie Lie” stated, “Everybody wants to know about Sabrina and Olivia. Why aren’t we focusing on these ladies as individuals? Instead of focusing on their connection with a male, let’s focus on the work they’re doing and how amazing they are.”
Prince Harry
While I have not talked much about the particular obstacles faced by women in the past, I believe it is critical to address something that has become clear to me and is already known to everyone in this room,” the prince remarked during a March 2016 visit to Nepal. “There are far too many barriers standing in the way of females achieving the chances they deserve. Numerous countries are failing to protect young women and girls’ chances in the same manner that they do for males. I feel it is critical for guys like me to recognise this as loudly and publicly as role models such as President Bhandari, First Lady Michelle Obama of the United States, and campaigners like Malala. Women can not be the exclusive advocates for girls. “
Matt McGorry
The How to Get Away With Murder star has been vocal about his support for women’s rights, and while his advocacy was not always well-received, he eventually found his place as an ally. “There are things I believe I said or tweeted in the early stages of my knowledge of these topics that I would never do today — and, quite frankly, they shame me to look back on,” he admitted in a 2017 interview with Motto. “However, I believe that making errors is a necessary part of any journey.”
McGorry offered many critical points at the time for other men interested in joining the battle for gender equality, including elevating underrepresented perspectives and listening to women’s experiences. “These talks need to take place with other males,” he added. “As I’ve discovered, I’m not required to speak to women about feminism. However, I do need to discuss it with guys — and I have been doing so very actively, much to the dismay of my male friends.”
Ashton Kutcher
“I believe there is a great deal that is not addressed about sex in our culture, especially on an educational level,” Kutcher, a human rights campaigner, said during a press event for his 2011 film No Strings Attached. “The one thing they teach is how to become pregnant or avoid being pregnant, but they never discuss sex as a source of pleasure for women… Part of it creates an environment in which women are not empowered to explore their own sexuality and sexual selves, and from an entertainment standpoint, creating a more with a female protagonist who is empowered by her sexuality is a powerful thing.”
Harry Styles
Feminism is a product of our time! “How can you claim that young girls do not understand? They are the “Two Ghosts,” our future “In April 2017, the crooner, who was previously photographed wearing a shirt that said “Women Are Smarter,” told Rolling Stone. “Our future doctors, attorneys, moms, and presidents – they are the lifeblood of the planet. Teenage female fans are not deceptive. They’re there if they like you. They do not appear to be ‘too cool.’ They admire you and express their admiration. which is a disease. “
Will Smith
He is not your typical father; he is a cool father. Smith told Parade in May 2012, “[Jade and I] let Willow get her hair trimmed.” “When you have a small child, it’s difficult to teach her that you have authority over her body. If I educate her that I have the last say on whether or not she may touch her hair, she will replace me with another guy when she ventures out into the world. She is unable to cut my hair, yet it is hers. She needs to be in control of her body. Thus, when she enters the world, she does so with a command that is uniquely hers. She is accustomed to making those choices on her own. We attempt to continue providing them with those choices until they are capable of bearing the entire weight of their life.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt
“What this implies to me is that you are not defined by your gender – you can be whatever you want to be regardless of whether you are a man, a woman, a boy, or a girl. Whatever way you want to identify yourself, you may and should, because no category ever truly represents a person because each individual is unique, “the 500 Days of Summer actor told The Daily Beast in August 2014. “To me, it is what feminism entails. Thus, I would categorize myself as a feminist. Women have historically been an oppressed group of people. There is a long, long history of women being subjected to abuse, unfairness, and being denied the same chances as males, which I believe has been extremely damaging to the human species as a whole. I believe that if everyone has an equal opportunity to be and accomplish what they want, it benefits everyone. It enriches the entire society.”
Andy Samberg
“Since there have been men and women, there have been hilarious ladies,” the Saturday Night Live comic told Glamour in April 2013. “F—king idiot-ass guys continue to assert that women are not amusing. It drives me insane. Every time, I find it repulsive and offensive.”
Ryan Gosling
Gosling, a father of two girls, discussed feminism in a June 2016 interview with the Evening Standard. “It is our turn, as males, to bear the brunt of the stick. As a result, I grew up among ladies, and as a result, I’ve always been conscious of that, “he explained. “As my mother and I walked into the grocery store, my father’s vehicles circled the block. It was terrifying, terrifying, terrifying, especially as a little child. predatory – always on the lookoutWomen, in my opinion, are superior to males. They are more developed and powerful. You can notice this most clearly when you have daughters and observe their early beginnings; they are instantly leaps and bounds ahead of boys.”
Ian Somerhalder
“We have established that it is normal for women to be spoken for, and that must change immediately,” the Vampire Diaries star told She Knows in February 2015. “Within the realms of advertising, marketing, fashion, technology, and athletics, women are informed where they should fit and how to act once they have found their correct fit. It is critical for girls to speak up, to act boldly, and to fall in love with the timbre of their powerful voices, yet this alone is not enough. Men in positions of patriarchal authority must undergo a sea change in order to align with women’s revolt and support this cultural transition as a whole. Men must recognize the change that comes with accepting and promoting the global surge of great women. When we recognize women’s genuine and indisputable strength, we can properly celebrate men’s progress.”
Chris Hemsworth
“Oh, without a doubt [I am a feminist]. My mother is an outspoken feminist. I believe that my mother influenced my views on things, such as my respect for women and so forth,” the Thor actor told Radio Times in March 2016. “My father also takes a very balanced and respectful stance on a lot of issues. They had a significant positive impact on my life. I believe the balance has been tipped heavily in men’s favor for a long period of time.”
Mark Ruffalo
“It becomes a moral issue about who you are and how you view the women in your life,” the outspoken feminist and Avengers star stated in a promotional video for The Center for Reproductive Rights in January 2014. “There is a common sense, a wisdom, and a decency in women that must be upheld and does not justify being thrown back 30 years into the nightmare that gave birth to the abortion rights movement for which we have fought and enacted legislation… As a man, I see no reason to go back.”
Justin Baldoni
“When you have a daughter born into this world, so many things come to mind,” the Jane the Virgin star said in October 2017 while collaborating with the storytelling platform MAKERS. “Just a profound duty to provide her with a father figure who inspires her to think that everything is possible and that she can do anything anybody else can, regardless of gender. As a result, I began the process of redefining what it means to be a man in my mind. That means using my platform to empower women while also demonstrating that I, as a man, am capable of loving my family.”
Jon Hamm
“In the 1960s, men ruled the roost and women played a subservient role. Working wives were uncommon, as their primary role was to raise the children, “the Mad Men alum told the Daily Mail in February 2011. “Because it was a male-dominated culture, women who worked were viewed as second-class people. That was a fact of life at the time. However, it would not be tolerated today, which is entirely appropriate in my opinion… People see those days under a thick mist of nostalgia, but life was difficult for everyone who was not a wealthy, powerful, white male.”
Seth Meyers
The late-night host has never shied away from expressing his support for his female coworkers. In September 2011, the comedian told Elle, “When you work with women as strong as the ones I work with, the notion that anyone would want to make their decisions for them is difficult to swallow.”
Daniel Radcliffe
“I recognize that this is a watershed moment for feminism, and it’s wonderful that we’re having these conversations and debating it, but it’s also… I suppose some people want you to declare yourself a feminist, “the Harry Potter actress told Just Jared in November 2014. “Certainly I am. I am an egalitarian; I consider everything. However, isn’t it amusing how it is assumed that you are not until you state otherwise? However, that is almost certainly the fault of men. We must improve.”
John Legend
We all adore him! In a March 2013 press conference, Legend stated, “All men should be feminists.” Men who care about women’s rights will make the world a better place. We benefit from women’s empowerment because it results in a more just society. “