Why Sandra Bullock Is Really Bothered By The Media

An ongoing discussion about ageism and sexism in Hollywood has brought out some of the industry's biggest stars inserting their two cents into the fold. From Helen Mirren to Maggie Gyllenhaal, the women of Hollywood are utterly annoyed, and now Sandra Bullock has a few words to say about how the media isn’t helping. Bullock terms it as ‘open hunting season’ stating that the media has a horrible trend of going after women.

The number of female celebs speaking out against their treatment in Hollywood is one thing, but Bullock wants to stand up against a much bigger problem— the media’s portrayal of women. In an interview with E! Online for her upcoming movie, Minions the actress opened up about the pressures of being a woman in the spotlight:

I feel like it’s become open hunting season in how women are attacked and it’s not because of who we are as people, it’s because of how we look or our age. I'm shocked—and maybe I was just naïve, but I'm embarrassed by it. My son is getting ready to grow up in this world and I'm trying to raise a good man who values and appreciates women, and here we have this attack on women in the media that I don't see a stop happening.

But for Bullock, the problem goes far beyond just herself and female celebrities. She explained to the publication that it is an issue hitting much closer to home for many people, with young girls having some of the hardest times on the internet with bullying. The problem is it starts at the top, and the top for many young women and young men is celebrity culture. They look to the media and to television, film, sports, and the news that surrounds them for role models and inspiration. If these mediums are attacking women because of looks and their age, it is what these younger generations will see, and potentially find to be acceptable ways of judging someone. Bullock admits it herself when she says it has nothing to do with who they are as people, but all to do with looks.

It is the similar discussion happening in Hollywood. When a 37-year-old woman named Maggie Gyllenhaal who has an extensive acting resume and is incredibly talented, gets nicked from a job opportunity, because she is ‘too old’ to play the love interest of a 55-year-old man. The woman of Hollywood are pissed, and Bullock explains that they are bonding together, trying to take care of each other, sticking up for one another, as we heard when Helen Mirren stuck up for Gyllenhaal after the incident.

But for Bullock, she wants to live in a world where her son can grow up to be a good man. And that starts with the way media treats all women, not just Hollywood stars.