In a 2014 interview the devastatingly glamorous singer songwriter Lana Del Rey told Fadar: “For me, the issue of feminism is just not an interesting concept… Whenever people bring up feminism, I'm like, god. I'm just not really that interested." She went on to say, "I'm more interested in, you know, SpaceX and Tesla, what's going to happen with our intergalactic possibilities."
The demeaning tone she took on the issue was slightly off-putting. It is clear that she does not want to be the next face of feminism, which is completely acceptable, but to regard a topic that brings so many women around the world hardship as boring is harsh. For those women who are abused, oppressed, neglected or denied basic human rights, it would be hard to stomach a beautiful, rich and famous female downplaying your struggle.
In a recent exclusive interview with her friend, James Franco, Del Rey expanded on what she meant by the comments she made during the interview. Franco has been co-writing Flip-Side: Real and Imaginary Conversations With Lana Del Rey, a 100-page book of interviews that will give readers a glimpse into the inner workings of the 1950s-esque pop star’s mind. Del Rey clarified she did not intend to undermine the issue of gender equality, but instead ignite conversations about the direction humans are headed towards.
“The luxury we have as a younger generation is being able to figure out where we want to go from here, which is why I’ve said things like, ‘I don’t focus on feminism, I focus on the future.’ It’s not to say that there’s not more to do in that area. I’ve gotten to witness through history the evolution of so many movements and now I’m standing at the forefront of new technological movements. I’m not undermining other issues. But I feel like that’s obvious, like I shouldn’t even have to bring that up.”
Gender equality is not the artist’s plight because it seems obvious to her. Del Rey is definitely not your average woman giving her a unique view of the world. She has released best-selling albums, sold out arenas, been featured on major motion picture soundtracks and has a net worth that is about 25 times greater than the average U.S. citizen. Living in the limelight allows her the privilege of basic human rights that many woman can only dream of having.
Celebrities are often expected to spearhead social movements, but Del Rey is making a point of identifying where her interests lie. Should she be criticized for choosing space travel above gender equality? Is it the responsibility of all women with influence to be the voice for their fellow women who do not? It’s hard to say whether or not things would move more quickly if every female celebrity teamed up against women’s oppression. It’s a paradox of sorts because as a woman Lana Del Rey is automatically associated with feminism.
However, it is important to remember that progress is not necessarily stifled because one person does not devote himself or herself to a cause. The advance of women’s rights has and will continue to be debated for generations to come. The vastness and complexity of human existence on earth means that change is always on the horizon. There is no simple formula or remedy for issues like gender equality that have deep roots engrained in cultures all over the world. Forward thinking is necessary in all aspects of human existence, including exploration of the universe we are a tiny part of. In order for a topic to gain traction people need to be talking about it, which is where celebrities like Lana Del Rey come in to catalyze those conversations.
