Rebooted movies and sequels often do not do well and Ghostbusters did not escape this fate. After the release of the trailer in March, it was deemed the most-disliked trailer in YouTube history. A number of reasons made the trailer and the movie a flop. Amid complaints that Hollywood is unoriginal, the previous movies should have been left untouched, and the CGI made it a 70 million USD loss for Sony, the biggest issue is misogyny. This reboot starred 4 women instead of 4 men like the 2 original movies. One writer on YouTube states, “Worst movie ever made...it should have been placed under documentary for feminist delusion.” There is nothing delusional about 4 women acting as ghost busting heroes. These ideas that men cannot relate to women as lead characters or that women cannot carry such roles must change.
This misogynistic mentality must change because it is not just a driving force in movie ticket sales but also gender discrimination, which is represented by the gender wage gap. According to Forbes, of the top 10 highest paid actors in 2016, only 2 are women and did not make nearly as much as Dwayne Johnson. Compare his 65 million USD to Jennifer Lawrence’s 46 million USD at number 6 and Melissa McCarthy’s 33 million USD at number 9. Gender inequality in Hollywood, in the workplace, in society (anywhere) is not acceptable and should not be discounted as feminist rhetoric. The write-off that at least in 2016, there are at least 2 women in the top 10 is not enough. Neither does it suffice to say, “Look, there is a woman president. They’ve come a long way.” For a moment, let’s examine this issue of gender inequality in Korea. Though there is a woman president, only 51 of the 300 elected officials in the National Assembly are women; that is to say only 16% hold political power and have political say. According to the World Bank in 2014, 50.33% of the Korean population is women. Having a female president does not offset the woefully disproportional representation of the Korean women in politics and social issues.
Not only do women lack political say but also financial power. According to Forbes’ list of the top 50 wealthiest Koreans, only 5 are women. Korea is becoming one of the countries with worsening income-inequality. The top 10% of this country owns about 50% of the nation’s wealth. The Korea Times reports that “Korea's income concentration on the top-10% has grown at the fastest rate to second-highest among major countries after the U.S.” This seems to highlight reasoning that, increasingly, men hold the majority of this country’s wealth. The access to wealth is concentrated in the hands of men, but the ability to earn money is also barrier. According to the Hyundai Research Institute, the wage gap has increased between men and women. Darcie Draudt finds that, “On average, women make 36.6 percent less than men.” Therefore, because of the wage gap women face difficulties earning money and gaining access to financial power. Another example that illustrates this point is the number of women CEOs in Korea. The Wall Street Journal reports, “There are only 13 female CEOs in the 1,787 companies listed on South Korea’s main stock exchange.” And more recently in 2015, the International Labour Organization reports that “the rate of women holding positions as CEOs and company board members in Korea is one of the lowest out of 126 countries….The said rate was only 11 percent in Korea, which ranked 115th among 126 countries.” Therefore, because of gender discrimination, women have less say in financial decisions.
Women obtaining the right to vote and enter the work force—these are all milestones in history, but are only a couple footsteps in women’s right to equality. Women are still underrepresented in the decision-making process of politics and business. Though the government must enact polices and laws to create gender equality, it is also important for civilizations across the globe to change their mentality and, in this effort, men must be a part of the process and dialogue. If misogynistic comments fueled so much backlash for a movie—not a political policy or an economic budget plan, but a movie, it shows how these attitudes can impede the progress of laws and policies. When people see this photo, the Twitter comment should not be, “Look at these childhoods that have been ruined!” It should be that women can inspire the future generations of women to be anything they want and to be treated equally for it. Women are mothers, wives, homemakers. Women are employees, board members, and CEOs. Women are public servants, elected officials and presidents. Women are Ghostbusters, superheroes and stars.
Prof. Tara Beck (M.A.College of Liberal Arts)