Meryl Streep is a respected figure in Hollywood, and her words carry a lot of weight. She has often shared her takes on controversial topics and taken definitive stands on issues that might spark severe backlash. In a recent interview, she spoke about women’s empowerment in the 21st century and how it still has a long way to go.
Meryl Streep believes that there is still “apology built into women” in 21st century
Meryl Streep is currently on a promotional run for the movie “The Devil Wears Prada 2,” which is scheduled to release on May 1, 2026. Recently, Vogue brought Meryl Streep and Anna Wintour, the real-life inspiration behind Meryl Streep’s character Miranda Priestly, together under one roof ahead of the film’s release. The two had a chat moderated by Greta Gerwig, during which they discussed Melania Trump’s fashion sense and how the rise of women in power in the 21st century has been “destabilizing.”
During the discussion, the actress referenced Melania Trump, who wore an infamous Zara jacket in 2018 that read, “I Really Don’t Care, Do U?” while visiting migrant children at a detention facility, which sparked massive backlash. She highlighted that a piece of clothing on a powerful figure communicates political meaning and becomes bigger than just personal style, whether intentionally or unintentionally.
“I think the most…powerful message that our current first lady sent was in the coat that said ‘I Really Don’t Care, Do U?’ when she was going to see migrant children who were incarcerated. All dress is about expressing yourself, but we’re also subject to larger historical and political sweeps of expectation,” she said.
Thereafter, she made a larger point about feminism in the 21st century, suggesting that women in power still feel pressured to show their “smallness” and be “non-threatening.”
“I’m stunned at how women in power have to have bare arms on television while men are covered in shirts and ties or a suit. There’s an apology built into women. They have to show their smallness. It’s compensatory: The advancements of women in the second half of the 20th century and the beginning of this one have been destabilizing. It’s as if women have to say, “I’m little. I can’t walk in these shoes. I can’t run. I’m bare, not threatening,” she further added.
Do you agree with Meryl Streep’s statement about the state of powerful women in the 21st century? Let us know in the comments section below.
