The New York Times has a feature this weekend about the self-proclaimed Fempire, four women screenwriters in Hollywood who hang out together, write, talk about bowel movements, and hold each other’s hands during that most emotional time of the month. While I’m personally of the opinion that Hollywood has become just a giant joke over the past decade or two (or maybe it’s always been a joke and I’m just learning), I do think it’s cool that these women who, while their list of writing credits is pretty crummy (albeit financially successful), have their own writing group to support one another and bounce ideas off of. Female writers have an extremely difficult time in the public eye; for the press, it’s all about how they look. When one thinks about Zadie Smith, it’s hard not to consider how she’s often referenced due to her looks before her talent. A friend of mine recently met Jhumpa Lahiri and afterward he called me and said, “Dude, she’s not as hot as she is on her dust jacket.” Granted, I’d much rather spend some time with Smith or Lahiri, as opposed to Diablo Cody (Juno) or Lorene Scafaria (Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist), I’m sure the latter ladies have just as hard of a time if not more so. The article itself mentions how they’re expected to look pretty and wear the hippest designers. But really, that’s par for the course in Hollywood. Would you think it any different?

What I don’t like about the article is the way the four ladies in the Fempire come off; there’s nothing wrong with bowel movements or how drunk you sometimes get. But I hate that they continually attempt to purport how counter-culture and cool they are by referencing that they always get drunk at premieres and events like it’s so rebellious. They even talk in the article how they’ve seen each other naked. Now look, if you don’t want to be objectified for your looks and want instead to be praised for your talent, that’s fine. But don’t go on in the same breathe about being boozy and loose because you’re just advertising these things to sell your work.

“We’re usually drunk by the third theater,” Ms. Cody said. “It’s super porno and tacky, and we love doing it.”

Saying something like that is just going to enforce the stereotypes you’re trying to quell. But ultimately, I don’t think these ladies are necessarily trying to quell these stereotypes. This kind stuff sells tickets and that’s what it all comes down to in Hollywood. If you want to be respected for beauty and brains, you need to take a step back and realize the image that you yourself demonstrate is going to affect peoples’ opinions of you. You can run around naked and get drunk and make a fool of yourself, but don’t advertise it and then a moment later talk trash about the media who are pigeonholing you for the exact thing you’re glorifying.

I want to give credit for the above picture of the Fempire as I borrowed it from the New York Times. Amy Dickerson is the photographer and the New York Times article in question is “An Entourage of Their Own” by Deborah Schoenman. Check it out. The Fempire is Dana Fox, Diablo Cody, Liz Meriwether, and Lorene Scafaria (in order of the picture posted above) and they are all certainly very attractive.

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Tags: amy dickerson, Dana Fox, Deborah Schoenman, Diablo Cody, fempire, hollywood, jhumpa lahiri, juno, Liz Meriwether, Lorene Scafaria, new york times, nick and norah's infinite playlist, screenwriting, zadie smith