If the part about having already fought for everybody else’s equal rights part leaves you a little confused, the actress clarifies what she means later in the press room: “So the truth is, even though we sort of feel like we have equal rights in America, right under the surface, there are huge issues that are applied that really do affect women. And it’s time for all the women in America and all the men that love women, and all the gay people, and all the people of color that we’ve all fought for to fight for us now.”

There are now questions circulating about. Did nerves leave the actress rambling and unguarded? Was she not really thinking? Or does she actually believe that gay and civil rights are segregated from feminism? It all sounds very second wave feminism, void of any thought regarding intersectional oppressions. And though it may be frustrating to hear privileged, rich, white women talk about oppression, actresses like Arquette and Emma Watson are celebrities who many look up to—whose words are taken to heart. Their words can lead others to take baby steps to feminism. Even fumbles like  Arquette’s pressroom comments can be a jumping off point for discussions on gender equity and intersectionality.

When talking about injustice, the word “equality” is often used in defining justice. Emma Watson used the term in her speech to the UN last September, and many other well-meaning folks do as well. But, equality operates on the idea that everyone is starting from the same place. That’s just not the case when it comes to gender discrimination and pay. Women of colour, Indigenous women and women with disabilities, for example, face barriers white able women do not—there is still a mainstream default ideal, which is based on whiteness, heterosexuality, middle-class status and having an able body.

It is well documented that women in higher-up positions, such as CEOs, make less than their male counterparts. It is also known that women are hired more for part-time work. Since the dominant gender norms dictate that women are the caregivers, mothers take the pay hit, whether it be in daycare fees or part-time work, as well as low maternity leave pay. Even for women without children, the mere possibility that they could get pregnant lessens their chances of being hired, among a list of other tired and sexist excuses. Equity would first create fairness for all people. Access to the same opportunities needs to be made before moving on to equality as the ideal. But there are so many overlapping factors regarding oppression. Race, class, religion, sexuality, ability, language, family, gender, and on and on.

White, heterosexual, rich women do not own feminism. Looking at Arquette’s comments, she seems to have forgotten that there are women of colour and gay women, or the fact that civil and gay rights have not yet been achieved.

I want to give the actress the benefit of the doubt; I want to be happy that feminism is being brought into the mainstream. Earlier today she Tweeted, “The working poor women of this country have been asking for help for decades. If I have “privilege”* or a voice I will shine light on them.” Hopefully those who were enlightened to feminism through Arquette’s speech will join the discussions about intersectionality so that these same mistakes won’t be made again.

*The reluctance of those with any privilege admitting that they have privilege is a whole other post.

A former This intern, Hillary Di Menna is in her first year of the gender and women’s studies program at York University. She also maintains an online feminist resource directory, FIRE- Feminist Internet Resource Exchange.

Two days later, Joseph Gordon-Levitt sent a video request through the internet to collect viewer’s thoughts on the word feminism and what it means to them: “To me it just means that your gender doesn’t have to define who you are; that you can be whatever you want to be, whoever you want to be, regardless of your gender,” says the actor. Responses will be used to make an episode for Gordon-Levitt’s company Hit Record for an episode called “RE: Your Mom.” It’s perfect for Gordon-Levitt, whose mom taught him about feminism and was active in feminism’s second wave.

“I decided that I was a feminist. This seemed uncomplicated to me,” says Watson. “Apparently, [women’s expression is] seen as too strong, too aggressive, isolating, and anti-men, unattractive even.”

Whether we’re into pop culture or not, it is important that these celebs are speaking out about the importance of feminism. Because of their position of cultural power and a voice that people will listen to, their messages will be heard, and then shared, re-blogged, and talked about. “Cultural domination has real effects,” writes Stuart Hall in his essay Notes on Deconstructing ‘The ‘Popular.’ “If we were to argue that these imposed forms have no influence, it would be tantamount to arguing that the culture of people can exist as a separate enclave, outside the distribution of cultural power and the relations of cultural force.”

Beyonce knows.

A friend of mine compares it to a person who has a megaphone at a demonstration and how they appear to have authority over the chants at a demonstration. Yet, if people are listening to celebrities no matter what, why can’t it be for the good of feminism?

“Feminism and pop culture will always be uneasy bedfellows in a larger culture that remains conflicted,” writes Andi Zeisler in her essay Pop and Circumstance, as part of Feminsim and Pop Culture. “About how much power, agency, and autonomy women should have.”

A former This intern, Hillary Di Menna is in her first year of the gender and women’s studies program at York University. She also maintains an online feminist resource directory, FIRE- Feminist Internet Resource Exchange.