Gabrielle UnionandEva Longoriaare taking a stand for working moms.
Union and Longoria are part of an “unofficial” society of film industry mothers “who are rewriting the rules of working parenthood,”Harper’s Bazaarreports.
Their decision to speak out comes after British filmmaker Greta Bellamacina wasturned awaybecause she brought her infant child to the Cannes Film Festival 2019 red carpet screening of herownfilmHurt By Paradise.
While there still is a lot of work to be done on the matter, Union revealed that on the set of her showL.A.’s Finestbeing a working mom is okay.
Union executive produces the show alongsideJessica Alba, who also stars in the series.
“When Jessica was negotiating she had just given birth and was just very clear about what she needed and that she understood her value, and it paved the way for all of us to have access to our kids,” Union toldHarper’s Bazaar.
Gregg DeGuire/WireImage
Alba, 38, welcomed sonHayes Albawith husband Cash Warren in January 2018.
“When I came back from maternity leave, Jess made sure my trailer had everything that hers had so Kaav could come right to set. No one’s had to make that crazy crazy sacrifice of going back to work and just, like, leaving your kid,” Union told the outlet of Alba. “Jess was like, f— that. I’m going to create the Hollywood that I’ve dreamed of and that I need.”
Furthermore, Union feels the need to change the way mothers appear on the big screen.
“Watching television now, I can absolutely tell when a man wrote the role of a woman being a mother,” Union explained. “It’s either she’s Madonna Mary perfect or has some super-human strength, or she is just one long-ass f—ing sacrifice. But there is no nuance.”
Union also expressed her desire to represent moms of all walks of life because “I was a stepmomma, but being a step-parent doesn’t count to a lot of people,” she told the magazine.
“All moms are not created equal, and all moms do not enjoy every aspect of parenting. Resources, privilege, race, region, and support all play a role in how we experience parenting. Playing a black mom, if I’m not going to bring that full experience to the table, I’m not interested,” Union said.
Eva Longoria with José Baston and their son Santiago.Andreas Rentz/Getty Images
Longoria, who made a point to “acknowledge that I come from a place of privilege,” explained that motherhood has also changed the way she views the world.
She shared that when asked if there was anything surprising about motherhood, she said, “No. You know you’re going to love your child. You know you’re not going to sleep. But what was surprising was my activism and philanthropy.”
“I have anxiety now about leaving the world a better place. My heart breaks in a way it has never broken before,” Longoria told the outlet in the wake of today’s political climate.
The groundbreaking interview comes just after Union’s daughtersaid her first words.
Longoria celebrated Santiago’sfirst birthdayon June 19, and the mother-son-duo celebrated the milestone with a trip to — where else? — the Happiest Place on Earth.
source: people.com
