Hilary Swank believes that the best way for women to overcome sexism is to focus on their own success and block out the external voices feeding their doubt.
“Women are constantly objectified and trivialized,” Swank said in an interview with HuffPost Live. “I think we get caught up in the idea that if we don’t look a certain way, we won’t be loved. If we don’t act a certain way, we won’t be successful.”
The Oscar-winning actress explained that the best way for women to support each other is to be an example and rise above those external pressures. Women can’t let their fears or the expectations of society stop them from reaching their goals and finding success, she said.
“Some women might say, ‘I want to be an entrepreneur.’ Some women might say, ‘I want to run this charity group.’ Some might say, ‘I want to be a mom.’ Whatever that is for you, and whatever form that takes, you have to take a step forward into that and just don’t be afraid,” Swank said.
But Swank went on to say that those fears don’t just apply to women. Men are often subject to the same kind of scrutiny.
“I think we all have our fears of what we’re supposed to be or how we’re supposed to act,” she said. “It’s quieting those voices and saying, ‘That’s not going to define me.'”
From left: Sharon Waxman; Rachel Sklar, founder, the Li.st, Change the Ratio; Shelley Zalis, CEO Ipsos, OTX; Whitney Bouck, SVP at Box; Joanna Pena-Bickley of IBM; Gayle Troberman of iHeartMedia
Megan Mack
TheWrap's Power Women NYC breakfast
Megan Mack
TheWrap's Power Women NYC breakfast
Megan Mack
TheWrap's Power Women NYC breakfast
Megan Mack
Mountain climber Melissa Arnot, the first woman to climb Mount Everest five times, the western women's world record holder for Everest summits, interviewed by Waxman
Megan Mack
Arnot with Waxman
Megan Mack
TheWrap's Power Women NYC breakfast
Megan Mack
TheWrap's Power Women NYC breakfast
Megan Mack
Creative Future CEO Ruth Vitale, a co-host of the breakfast
Megan Mack
TheWrap's Power Women NYC breakfast
Megan Mack
TheWrap magazine
Megan Mack
An auction raised thousands of dollars for the Joyful Heart Foundation
Megan Mack
Gayle Troberman, EVP/Chief Marketing Officer of iHeartMedia
Megan Mack
Joanna Pena-Bickley, Global Chief Creative Officer, IBM Interactive Experience
Megan Mack
Rachel Sklar, founder of the Li.st and Change the Ratio
Megan Mack
TheWrap's Power Women NYC breakfast
Megan Mack
Rachel and Ruby Sklar
Megan Mack
A&E CEO Nancy Dubuc, sponsor of the breakfast
Megan Mack
TheWrap's Power Women NYC breakfast
Megan Mack
President of Broadway League Charlotte St. Martin, producer Paula Wagner and, to her left, American Theater President Heather Hitchens
Megan Mack
Patina Miller, star of "Sister Act" on Broadway and Tony Award Winner for "Pippin"
Megan Mack
Waxman
Megan Mack
Jill Wilson, SVP at SGN gaming company, talked about the importance of mentoring women coders
Megan Mack
Claudia Kozma Kaplan, Joanna Pena-Bickley, Shelley Zalis, Laura Molen, Gayle Troberman, Marjorie Schussel and Marta Martinez socialize at the event
Getty Images
Shauniquea Eure and Jade McQueen from Box, Inc, with Jill Wilson, SVP at SGN
Megan Mack
From left: Sharon Waxman; Rachel Sklar, founder, the Li.st, Change the Ratio; Shelley Zalis, CEO Ipsos, OTX; Whitney Bouck, SVP at Box; Joanna Pena-Bickley of IBM; Gayle Troberman of iHeartMedia
Megan Mack
Tunie
Megan Mack
Arnot with Waxman
Megan Mack
Liz Gately, Head of Programming for Lifetime, talks with Waxman
Megan Mack
Megan Mack
Megan Mack
TheWrap's Power Women NYC breakfast
Megan Mack
Jill Wilson, SVP at SGN gaming company, with Shauniquea Eure of Box, Inc