Actor, director, husband, father and activist,
Mark Ruffalo has been outspoken on many social issues, including but not limited to; climate change, clean energy, water preservation, and women's rights.
In 2013, Ruffalo delivered a letter that was read during a Jackson, Mississippi abortion rally. Here is an excerpt from Ruffalo's letter:
I am a man. I could say this has nothing to do with me. Except I have two daughters and I have a mother who was forced to illegally have an abortion in her state where abortion was illegal when she was a very young woman. It cost $600 cash. It was a traumatizing thing for her. It was shameful and sleazy and demeaning. When I heard the story I was aghast by the lowliness of a society that would make a woman do that. I could not understand its lack of humanity; today is no different.
The
entire letter is well worth the read.
Lately there has been a lot of social media discussion about feminism and what it means to be a feminist. In March, Ruffalo reblogged an unabashed statement by writer Libby Anne Bruce, about feminism. Ruffalo, in public support, posted Ms. Bruce's statement on his Tumblr page, on Twitter, and it's mentioned on Reddit.
“My response to the “I am not a feminist” internet phenomenon….
First of all, it’s clear you don’t know what feminism is. But I’m not going to explain it to you. You can google it. To quote an old friend, “I’m not the feminist babysitter.”
But here is what I think you should know.
You’re insulting every woman who was forcibly restrained in a jail cell with a feeding tube down her throat for your right to vote, less than 100 years ago.
You’re degrading every woman who has accessed a rape crisis center, which wouldn’t exist without the feminist movement.
You’re undermining every woman who fought to make marital rape a crime (it was legal until 1993).
Libby Anne goes on to talk about the sacrifices women have made for their family and this country. It's worth visiting her
or Mark Ruffalo's Tumblr page to read the entire statement. She ends with this:
In short, you know not what you speak of. You reap the rewards of these women’s sacrifices every day of your life. When you grin with your cutsey sign about how you’re not a feminist, you ignorantly spit on the sacred struggle of the past 200 years. You bite the hand that has fed you freedom, safety, and a voice.
In short, kiss my ass, you ignorant little jerks.”
Thank you, Libby Anne Bruce, for your strong views. And thank you, Mark Ruffalo, for not only for using your celebrity to speak out about women's reproductive choice and feminism, but also for having the courage to take a political stand on many social issues. With exception of
a small number, many entertainers in music/film industries are afraid to speak their truth for fear of losing fans. My bet is for every fan Ruffalo might lose, he gains 10 (or more). And for some reason, I imagine he's not too concerned about it these days.
Special thanks to Kossack, Black Griffen, for pointing out Libby Anne Bruce is the author of the statement on feminism.
