Monday, February 24, 2014

Why Chelsea Handler Doesn't Want to be Considered Successful—For a "Woman"

Why Chelsea Handler Doesn't Want to be Considered Successful—For a "Woman"

In a recent column, the late-night host explains why the "woman" part should have nothing to do with it

Late-night TV is experiencing a big shakeup at the moment: Jimmy Fallon took over The Tonight Show last Monday, and Seth Meyers premieres on Late Night tonight. It's exciting stuff. (Have you seen Jimmy and Justin Timberlake's amazing "History of Rap 5"?) So naturally, lots of people are chatting about it. 

Now, though, Chelsea Handler is in on the discussion for a different reason. She recently wrote a Huffington Post column in response to a New York Times' story about Jimmy Fallon's The Tonight Show debut.

In her column, Chelsea explained her reaction to reading to the New York Times article: "I obviously didn't expect or want to be a focal point of the piece, and I really just appreciated the photo of me at the top of the article placed alongside my late-night contemporaries that featured my new haircut—the feedback has been overwhelming. What bothered me was that when I was listed in a paragraph with the late-night hosts, I was the only name put in parentheses. Mr. Carter wrote, '(The only female host in late-night is Chelsea Handler, 38, on E!).'"

MORE: Men and Women Face a Double Standard in the Workplace—and This Gutsy Commercial Calls Us Out on It

Chelsea later writes in her column, "Just as I don't want to be inconsequential in any late-night discourse, I also don't want to be singled-out and lauded merely because I am successful 'for a woman.' I only want to be acknowledged for having worked hard to build an equally significant audience and fan base to those of my peers. I believe the success of any woman should never be qualified by her gender."

We love that, and we totally agree.

So, tell us: What do you think of Chelsea's column? Have you ever felt like you've been called out for being successful "for a woman," rather than for being just plain successful?

MORE: Lauren Conrad's Favorite "Position"

chelsea-handler.jpg

Powered by WPeMatico

No comments:

Post a Comment