LOS ANGELES-When one of Hollywood's most objectified women talks about tabloid culture, people listen. But while actresses are cheering Jennifer Aniston's recent essay connecting the media's obsession with her looks to the overall objectification of women, most are resigned that reality will be slow to catch up with the conversation.
"Entrenched ways take a while to change," said Marisa Tomei, "but having the conversations and opening it up, objecting to it or seeing different points of view about it is really helpful."
"I applaud Jennifer," said actress Allison Janney. "I hate that she had to do it, but I think she just had enough."
Aniston wrote in her Huffington Post essay earlier this month that constant tabloid speculation over whether she's pregnant contributes to sexist cultural standards that equate a woman's worth with her appearance and maternal status.
"We use celebrity 'news' to perpetuate this dehumanizing view of females," Aniston wrote.
"More scrutiny has always been leveled at women, no matter the context," said Ella Ceron, digital entertainment editor for Teen Vogue magazine. "Women are held to different standards than men, and are taught from a young age to value their looks and their grooming and their weight very seriously."
While tabloids have long seen women through an appearance-focused lens, other recent press coverage unduly aimed at actresses' looks has inspired vocal criticism online. A June article in Variety in which its film critic maligns Renee Zellweger's face based on her appearance in a trailer for "Bridget Jones's Baby" inspired an impassioned response from actress Rose McGowan, who called the piece "vile, damaging, stupid and cruel." Variety has declined comment.
Zellweger's face was the subject of such widespread scrutiny and speculation in 2014 that the actress released a statement suggesting that she looks different because she had gotten older during her time away from the entertainment industry.