Angelina Jolie discusses female empowerment and the systemic factors that hold women back

Angelina Jolie has spoken about the importance of women knowing their value and the systemic factors that hold many back from achieving their full potential.

On Wednesday, the National Democratic Institute shared a clip on Twitter of the Maleficent star speaking with former secretary of state Madeleine Albright and television presenter Mika Brzezinski via video call.

During a portion of the conversation, Albright said that one of the most profound results of empowering women around that world is that “women are able to make a political difference by running for office” and “being part of the decision-making mechanism”.

Jolie went on to spotlight some of the societal factors that have been holding women back, adding: “Women contribute so much, they are giving, are nurturing by nature, are community-building by nature, are strong, are intelligent, and yet what is it that's holding us back?

“I think when you speak of value, that's something to really sit with. Why is it that so many women still don't know their own value?”

She continued: “What is it that's been done to us, whether it be the rapes and the lack of accountability for the rape, whether it be domestic violence, whether it be ... this question where we still, we still are saying, 'Please stop hurting me,' and 'Please hold someone to account if they hurt me’. ”

Brzezinski commented that it is “amazing” to see what can happen when women get a sense of their value and feel empowered.

“Even in industry, in the United States, when I’m coaching women on knowing their value it is so hard to get them to see it,” she said. “They almost seem grateful to be working when actually the companies should be happy to have them.”

Jolie, a long-time activist, has continued to speak out about issues such as child abuse, poverty and white privilege during the coronavirus pandemic.

Last month, Jolie discussed racism and discrimination in America and described a “system” that protects her but might not protect her daughter because she is black as “intolerable”.

Speaking to Harper’s Bazaar, the humanitarian stated that “laws and policies” need to be changed in order to “address structural racism and impunity”.

“A system that protects me but might not protect my daughter – or any other man, woman or child in our country based on skin colour – is intolerable,” the 45-year-old said.

“We need to progress beyond sympathy and good intentions to laws and policies that actually address structural racism and impunity. Ending abuses in policing is just the start.

“It goes far beyond that, to all aspects of society, from our education system to our politics.”

Jolie and her ex-husband, actor Brad Pitt, have six children. Their third oldest child, 15-year-old Zahara, was adopted by Jolie from an orphanage in Ethiopa when she was six months old.

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