Happy Malala Day in honor of Tough Cookie Malala Yousafzai

Happy Malala Day!

Wanna hear a pretty crazy awesome story? So there's this teenage girl named Malala Yousafzai. She lives in Pakistan. And she wants to go to school so she can learn. But in her country, that's not something girls are really allowed to do. In fact, the Taliban culture there operates on the belief that it's unnecessary, distracting, and even dangerous in some eyes to educate a woman. But Malala was special. She was determined. And she was raised…
Posted inReal Cookies
Meet Tough Cookie female director powerhouse Jane Campion

A Champion for Women Directors

The 67th Cannes Film Festival wrapped up at the end of last month with another round of slightly disappointing results from a gender equality perspective. This time, only two female-directed films competed against 16 male-directed films for the ultimate Palme d’Or prize, which did end up going to a man. That said, the second prize Grand Prix award did go to a woman, 33-year-old Italian writer/director Alice Rohrwacher, for her second film Le Meraviglie (The Wonders.) That's hopeful! What's more, the festival's grand jury…
Posted inReal Cookies
A Voice For Men Conference says men can be Tough Cookies too

Men Can Be Tough Cookies Too

Ladies, I cannot stress this enough. Men are not the enemy. Men are not the problem. Only a part of it. It is far far more complicated, and yet far simpler, than that. Being a true feminist is NOT about hating men, as so many have claimed. Because the test of true confidence is not in who you can blame, or who you can make smaller to make yourself seem bigger - it's about believing…
Posted inReal Cookies
Meet Variety’s Power of Women: Inspiration Impact Honorees on Tough Cookie

Variety’s Power of Women: Inspiration Impact Honorees

Last September, I wrote a post about Variety's Power of Women Honorees. And today, Variety is at it again, honoring six incredible ladies in the entertainment industry with the Inspiration Impact Honoree award for their admirable humanitarian efforts with their chosen causes. Susan Sarandon is being honored for her work with Hope North, which works to educate and heal the youth of Uganda’s civil war. They are honoring Sarah Jessica Parker for her work with the New…
Posted inReal Cookies
How All About Eve reflects the villain in all of us, even Tough Cookies can have a dark side

The Villains in Us

Isn't it disappointing how simplistic and one-dimensional today's female characters in films have become, particularly in action-oriented films? And I don't just mean the heroines, although they are often severely lacking in flaws and character development themselves. But no, today I want to talk about the villains - or villainesses as it were. It's these women who shape the conflict of the story. And too often they are short changed, given little thought and weak…
Posted inMovies
Joss Whedon on Equality Now and why he writes strong female roles in film and tv, a true Tough Cookie in his own right

Why Joss Whedon Writes Strong Women

It's probably one of the highest honors in the world of film and storytelling to be recognized and revered by the incomparable Meryl Streep. In this Cookie's humble opinion, there's simply no one more universally talented and decorated. So when Ms. Streep tips her hat to a man for his great work on equality for women and girls, you know this guy must be pretty amazing. And he is. He's Joss Whedon. Perhaps one of…
Posted inMovies, Real Cookies, TV Shows
Listen to true Tough Cookie Cate Blanchett's Oscar speech

Cate Blanchett on Why Female-Centered Films Rule

When Cate Blanchett won the Best Actress Oscar for her title role in Blue Jasmine last night, she couldn't help but mention how incredible this honor is, not just for herself, but for all women in this field. And the audience roared in applause when she passionately pointed out this common mis-perception: "Perhaps those of us in the industry who are still foolishly clinging to the idea that female films, with women at the center,…
Posted inMovies, Real Cookies
Tough Cookie Helen Mirren makes a powerful speech at the Women in Film event

Helen Mirren on Women In Film

At the Women in Film reception on Friday evening, co-host Helen Mirren got up to speak and immediately proceeded command the attention of the room. "Shut up," she said boldly, "cause Mama’s in the house." She then turned her attention to another group and said, "That includes all you guys over there near the bar." And boy did they. Everyone did, because Helen Mirren is one Tough Cookie, who knows how to command all the…
Posted inMovies, Real Cookies
Why is the film industry failing women, like Tough Cookie Jane Fonda who founded the Women's Media Center

Film and TV are Failing Women

Can you believe that women are still underrepresented in the film and TV industries? Well, I suppose I can believe it - but I wish I didn't have to. But unfortunately, we have solid proof of this sad truth, thanks to a recent report from the Women’s Media Center, which was founded by Jane Fonda, Robin Morgan, and Gloria Steinem. The report summarized research conducted at USC and San Diego State, among others, and declared that “the…
Posted inReal Cookies
Ever told you look badass, like Tough Cookie Sarah Connor in Terminator 2?

Ever Told You Look Bad-Ass?

I walked into work today and my boss said to me, "You're looking very Sarah Connor today." "Thanks!" I replied. And I meant it. I think that's the nicest thing anyone's ever said to me. I'm pretty sure he meant it as a compliment... but even if he didn't, that should always be taken as a good thing. Don't you agree? Would you be happy to be told you look particularly bad-ass today? I think…
Posted inTravel Inspiration
Tough Cookie Scarlett Johansson stars as the Black Widow in her own movie, finally!

Finally – Black Widow Gets Her Own Movie!

We've seen Iron Man, and Captain America, and Thor, and the Hulk hit the big screens in all their own glory - all those hunky superhero men who join forces and fight side-by-side in "The Avengers" franchise. But what about the one woman who kicks ass right alongside those men? Scarlett Johansson's Black Widow character has side-kicked next to the title characters in both the "Iron Man" films and the upcoming "Captain America: The Winter…
Posted inMovies
Tough Cookie Ellen Page comes out as gay, and we couldn't be prouder of her!

Ellen Page Busts Out of the Closet

In a tear-inducing speech at the Time to Thrive conference in Vegas today (which also conveniently happens to be Valentine's Day), the incredibly talented actress Ellen Page came out of the closet (nay, kicked down the door of that damn closet) and announced that she is gay. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hlCEIUATzg She looked that packed audience of LGBT youth straight in the eyes (no pun intended) and said proudly: “I’m here today because I am gay” And the best part is, she…
Posted inReal Cookies