It’s almost as though all of history has traditionally been so terrible for women that the universe flipped the karmic script and threw us a bone in 2017. The #MeToo movement, a bunch of powerful men losing their jobs as a result of sexual misconduct, Roy Moore’s defeat thanks to African-American voters, and now, for the first time ever: The 2018 Screen Actors Guild Awards ceremony will be presented by women. Only women.
Most awards ceremonies pair male and female presenters, and the SAGs have historically been no exception. Not this year! Better still, the host for this night of celebration will be Kristen Bell, who told The New York Times:
“Culturally, there’s always been a conversation about equality. Now there’s some mega-spotlights on this conversation and, dare I say, some pyrotechnics in the background. I’m not the first female host. I’m the first host. The fact that a female was chosen to be the first one means my genitals become irrelevant.”
It is important to keep the female-powered ball rolling in a post-Harvey-Weinstein world, and although there are sure to be plenty of men onstage winning awards, the prevalence of female-heavy ensemble casts nominated is a sure sign things are heading in the right direction.
SAG Awards executive producer Kathy Connell told the told the Hollywood Reporter that this decision was meant to empower females, especially the silence breakers who helped bring about the cosmic shift currently ousting sexual creeps from positions of power. “Beginning with the Women’s March in January, it’s been the year of the woman,” she said. “This is a unifying salute to women who have been very brave and speaking up.”
She also insisted this was not about punishing men for their behavior. “We don’t want to slight the men who have given great performances this year,” she said. “Knowing our membership, I’m sure our men will embrace the opportunity to honor women.” At least you’d hope so.