CULTURE
America Ferrera's Impactful Message
to Women
By: Ava Pettigrew Edited by: Sophia Anastasakis
At this year’s Critic’s Choice Awards, America Ferrera received the SeeHer award for her moving performance in the Barbie movie. Ferrera’s character, Gloria, delivered the iconic speech on the impossible reality of being a woman that brought audiences around the world in tears, including me. For girls, hearing the words “we have to always be extraordinary, but somehow we're always doing it wrong” was something we’ve all felt but never discussed or put into words. Celebrating the Barbie movie and all it stands for has been a power move for women everywhere, and Ferrera receiving this award is the cherry on top.
So, what’s the SeeHer Award? This prestigious award was created in 2016 when the SeeHer organization – committed to increasing the representation and accurate portrayal of all women – paired with the Critic’s Choice Awards to honor “a woman who advocates for gender equality, portrays characters with authenticity, defies stereotypes, and pushes boundaries.” In the past few years, some big-name actresses have received the award, starting with Viola Davis – followed by Claire Foy, Kristen Bell, Zendaya, and Halle Berry. These distinguished women were awarded not only for their talent – but also for the message they embodied. Female stars of all backgrounds on the big screen are something to admire and promote, especially considering the ongoing demand for more representation at award showcases.
At this year’s Critic Choice Awards, America Ferrera delivered a moving speech of her own expressing how she “grew up as a first generation Honduran American girl in love with TV, film and theater, who desperately wanted to be a part of a storytelling legacy that I could not see myself reflected in,” For Ferrera, this dream became not only a reality, she also came to pave the path as the first and only Latina to win an Emmy for Lead Actress in Comedy.
With the massive success and media coverage around the Barbie movie this past year, Ferrera stole the hearts of women worldwide, taking the words right out of their mouths. Though Ferrera's character portrayed a working-class single mother, women of all ages and demographics were able to resonate with her frustration as she discussed the internal struggles of perfectionism, unattainable beauty standards, and living in a patriarchal society.
“I'm just so tired of watching myself and every single other woman tie herself into knots so that people will like us. And if all of that is also true for a doll just representing women, then I don't even know.” A loaded line word-for-word encompassing the plot of Barbie and the complex reality of being a woman. These words alone are powerful, and Ferrera’s delivery brought it to another level.
In America’s acceptance speech, she extended her applause and hope for Latina representation in the film industry by shouting out the younger generation, such as Jenna Ortega, Ariana Greenblatt, and Selena Gomez. Though Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie didn’t receive Oscar nominations, Ferrera was nominated for Actress in a Supporting Role, continuing her well-deserved recognition in film. From her first major films, such as The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants and Real Women Have Curves, America has consistently played characters that revise outdated narratives and confront deeply rooted biases about Latina women alongside writers, directors, and producers. Thanks to ambitious and optimistic figures like America Ferrera, women from every ethnicity and race now have opportunities and representation in Hollywood, allowing global audiences to celebrate their performances.
Looking to the future, I have hope for it to be bright. Having grown up on The Sisterhood of The Travelling Pants and now being a young woman, it has been a gift to see America Ferrera transform the media industry into a more inclusive space for Latina women. Nothing brings me more joy than watching women on screen and behind the scenes break the glass ceiling, pushing against stereotypes and boundaries as females—one united group, not divided by race and ethnicity, granting us all the same opportunities. When we allow room for all, we see so many women shine through and alleviate the impossibility of being a woman.