In a recent interview, Irish actress Saoirse Ronan, star of Lady Bird and Little Women, spoke candidly of her fears for women’s safety. What had started as an emotional conversation had quickly snowballed too far into public opinion and was shared via social media and in print by fans and critics alike. Ronan said she was amazed at the firestorm response, illustrating precisely how people feel on the issue.
It was the first time that the 29-year-old actress voiced the problem of women’s safety while discussing social expectations and the pressures women face while walking around in public. “For as long as I can remember, women have been coached to be hypervigilant, to send their friends texts once they get home, not to walk down certain streets at night,” the actress said. Ronan’s remarks were borne out of her own experience but resonated in a universal voice, especially in a year when conversation about women’s rights and personal security worldwide is at its peak.
Ronan’s statements only implicated wider social agendas for measures women seem to feel they are compelled to take as if forced into action by default and not a sense of choice. “. “I was just sharing my own experiences and those of the women around me,” Ronan said. “I hadn’t expected the level of response-and emotional reactions-from so many people around the world.” She added that the issue seemed to have sparked an urgent conversation that goes beyond personal anecdotes to touch on the societal need for change.
Her praises and criticisms are a pretty mixed bag. While there are those who praise her for using her position to educate people on the reality women have to live day by day, there are also those who criticize the actor for concentrating too much on women’s security issues, which may create a culture of fear instead. Ronan realized that her comments would evoke many readings but remained firm in her point that discussing safety should lead to the empowerment and awareness of society.
From the strong reaction, Ronan hopes this can be an opening to honest talks and not to silt. “This is something we need to have honest talks about,” she said, adding that even such talks might lead to practical solutions and attitude change. The strong reaction for Ronan made the candid conversations have power as they were dealing with issues plaguing many women around the world.
