Listen up, fellas! Mark Ruffalo, Ryan Gosling and more of Hollywood’s leading men have staunchly supported their female colleagues and utilized their platforms to speak out in celebration of feminism and gender equality.
The 13 Going on 30 actor is a vocal advocate for a handful of hot-button issues — and he’s not afraid to get a little backlash for speaking his mind. Ruffalo is a member the Marvel Cinematic Universe and called for more female-led comics stories and empowering portrayals. Avengers: Age of Ultron.
“I think part of the problem is that people are frustrated that they want to see more women, doing more things, in superhero movies, and because we don’t have as many women as we should yet, they’re very, very sensitive to every single story line that comes up right now,” Ruffalo said during a Reddit AMA in May 2015 as the film faced criticism for how it interpreted Black Widow’s character (played by Scarlett Johansson). “When we do that with a woman, because there are so few story lines for women, we become hyper-critical of every single move that we make because there’s not much else to compare it to. … The fact that this is a debate that’s coming out of this movie is probably a positive thing.”
The SpotlightStar is not shy about using his platform for charity. Gosling credits his family for motivating him to take a stand.
“I think women are better than men. They are stronger, more evolved,” the La La LandActor who shares Esmeralda, Amada and their daughters Eva MendesThe author told the Evening StandardJune 2016. “You can tell especially when you have daughters and you see their early stages, they are just leaps and bounds beyond boys immediately.”
Gosling pointed out that “it’s our time as men” to step up and be allies when it comes to achieving gender equality. While it’s a powerful move to use their voices for the cause, Orange is the New BlackAlum Matt McGorryHe advises his male colleagues and friends to listen more than what they say.
“Celebrities tend to get a lot of credence on these issues, and particularly as a man who is coming forward, it’s easier for me to get credit for standing up than those who are actually affected,” he told Motto in 2017, teasing, “I don’t need to be talking to women about feminism.”
Scroll down to view some of the most inspirational quotes by famous male feminists.
