In a shocking interview, actress Jane Fonda reveals that she was raped and sexually abused as a child.
Actress Brie Larson sat down with Jane for The Edit‘s latest cover story. The two talked about feminism and how the patriarchal system continues to take a toll on women, especially in Hollywood. “To show you the extent to which a patriarchy takes a toll on females; I’ve been raped, I’ve been sexually abused as a child, and I’ve been fired because I wouldn’t sleep with my boss,” Jane says. “I always thought it was my fault; that I didn’t do or say the right thing. I know young girls who’ve been raped and didn’t even know it was rape. They think, ‘It must have been because I said ‘no’ the wrong way.'”
But this didn’t stop Jane from fighting against rape. She established The Jane Fonda Center for Adolescent Reproductive Health which focuses on prevention of teenage pregnancy, and educate the youth on reproductive health.
“One of the great things the women’s movement has done is to make us realize that [rape and abuse is] not our fault. We were violated and it’s not right,” Jane says.
This is a timely discussion as sexual harassment and abuse continues to be an issue. Just this week, Casey Affleck won an Oscar for Best Actor despite harassment allegations. He’s also brushed it off, saying in an interview with Boston Globe, “There’s really nothing I can do about it. Other than live my life the way I know I live it and to speak to what my values are and how I try to live by them all the time.”
Brie is also a sexual assault survivor advocate who, ironically, presented the Best Actor Oscar to Casey. Fans look up to her for being vocal about issues of sexual assault. One instance was when she hugged every survivor after Lady Gaga’s “Till It Happens to You” performance last year.
[Nylon]
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