We Are Thankful For Jennifer Lawrence

Last weekend I gave a sermon speaking to the need to free ourselves from the limiting and unhealthy images that define masculinity in America.  Click here to read it! Today, as we prepare to eat a great and awesome meal, I feel compelled to follow up on the theme.

It is not surprising that society boxes in our definition of femininity as well, and it is just as unhealthy as our definition of masculinity.  While society tells boys and men they need to be strong, in control, and violent, it tells women they need to be submissive, frail, and uber skinny.  Media feeds us image after image of airbrushed starving women.  Any, so called, "imperfections" magically disappear thanks to digital editing.  The images of women we put out into the world and consume are literally constructed and unrealistic.  Yet, we teach young girls and boys that this fiction is the ideal woman.

Well one actress is taking a stand.  Jennifer Lawrence, in a recent article, has stated that she wants to provide women with a competing image. Click here to read the article.  As Lawrence takes on more iconic roles, and is recognized by a greater audience, her stance reaches more of America.  She is perhaps most famous for her portrayal of Katniss Everdeen in the movie version of the popular young-adult book, The Hunger Games.  

In the article Lawrence stated, “I’m never going to starve myself for a part… I don’t want little girls to be like, ‘Oh, I want to look like Katniss, so I’m going to skip dinner."

Sadly, Lawrence is one of only a few actresses who try to provide women with a role model that broadens their conceptions of femininity and challenges society's image of a "real woman."  Moreover, she is fighting against an industry that perpetuates these unhealthy images of femininity.  Lawrence told Elle magazine, "In Hollywood, I’m obese. I’m considered a fat actress..."  Anyone who has seen Lawrence in a film knows that she in anything but obese.  However, Hollywood has never been the real world, and her stance could deprive her of roles.  The larger problem is we don't convey that these unhealthy images are fictitious.  Instead, we ask women to conform to these ridiculous images, leading to unhealthy behaviors and body-image problems. 

Just as we need to challenge definitions of masculinity rooted in concepts of violence and control, we must challenge images femininity rooted in concepts of submissiveness and frailty.   Our ideal image of a woman should not pressure young girls and women to starve their bodies.  We must promote a healthy broader image of femininity.

There is a midrash that states that God is like a minter who makes coins.  Like coins, each human is imprinted with the same image; in this case the image of God.  However, unlike coins which all come out the same, each human is made unique.  We learn from this midrash that our differences are part of what make us miraculous and tie us to the divine.  While society asks us to conform to a single image, it is precisely the fact that we are unique that demonstrates the awesomeness of God's creation.

We at Reyut are dedicated to working with youth and adults as we challenge these unhealthy gender constraints.  They are dangerous and can have lasting impacts on men and women.  Join us as we work to ensure our Jewish communities encourage us to freely express who we are. 

We at Reyut wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving!
Ari