Entertainment Women Standing Up to Sexist Interview Questions  

Q: How do you balance work and family?
A: A badass speech about double standards.

Two actors. Same profession. Same event: Women in Hollywood. Ben Affleck is asked about his work, Garner is asked how she can possibly be a working mom. Fortunately, Garner was speaking at the event that night and got the chance to fight back, going on to say, "As for work-balance, [Ben] said no one asked him about it that day. As a matter of fact, no one had ever asked him about it. And we do share the same family. Isn’t it time to kinda change that conversation?”

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Nicki Minaj shut down a New York Times Magazine reporter who accused her of feeding off the of the drama between her boyfriend, Meek Mill, and Drake.

 Q: ‘‘Is there a part of you that thrives on drama, or is it no, just pain and unpleasantness—’’

A: ‘‘That’s disrespectful. Why would a grown-ass woman thrive off drama?‘ What do the four men you just named [Meek Mill, Drake, Bryan Williams AKA Birdman, and Lil Wayne] have to do with me thriving off drama? Why would you even say that? That’s so peculiar. Four grown-ass men are having issues between themselves, and you’re asking me do I thrive off drama?

‘‘That’s the typical thing that women do. What did you putting me down right there do for you? Women blame women for things that have nothing to do with them. I really want to know why — as a matter of fact, I don’t. Can we move on, do you have anything else to ask?

 "To put down a woman for something that men do, as if they’re children and I’m responsible, has nothing to do with you asking stupid questions, because you know that’s not just a stupid question. That’s a premeditated thing you just did. Do not speak to me like I’m stupid or beneath you in any way. I don’t care to speak to you anymore.’’

Q: Do you find, in fact, that what could be best described as your equipment, in fact, hinders you in that pursuit [of being taken seriously as an actress]?

A: I'd like you to explain what you mean by my equipment. In great detail. 

Q: Well, your physical attributes. 

A: You mean my fingers?

Q: No, I meant your figure.

A: Because serious actresses can't have big bosoms. Is that what you mean?

Helen Mirren is an OG when it comes to standing up to sexist questions in interviews. This heated exchange, from 1975, was conducted to promote a staging of Macbeth in which Mirren starred as Lady Macbeth. Apparently, even when you do Shakespeare, if you're a woman, the questions come down to sex appeal. Almost the entire 15-minute interview consists of Mirren batting down, redirecting, or undermining sexist, ignorant comments from host Michael Parkinson. 

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Q: Now, were you able to wear... undergarments?
A: What's going on? You're like the fifth person to ask me that question. Since when did people start asking each other in this industry about their underwear?

The Extra reporter certainly regretted this question after Jeremy Renner dropped his head in shame, and all attempts at salvaging the question were for naught. Who knew promoting The Avengers was really just a panel about undergarments.

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