Penelope Cruz believes there are too many taboos surrounding women’s bodies which she says shows “a big lack of respect”.
The Hollywood star, 54, thinks many discussions around women’s health are avoided as people are too nervous to talk about them.
Many, she said, are linked to hormones. “Hormones rule the world," she told https://www.tatler.com/article/penelope-cruz-is-tatlers-august-issue-cover-starTatler. “There are times in the life of a woman that have to be acknowledged and understood. There are too many taboos surrounding women’s bodies and I think it equals a big lack of respect.
“Words like ‘period’, ‘post-partum depression’, ‘menopause’, even today, you bring them up at a dinner table, everybody gets nervous.
“Even if it’s a group of women, if men are also at the table, the energy gets very nervous.
“Society keeps things taboo and I’m really angry about this.” She said speaking about the issues could be something that can take momentum from the #MeToo movement.
She said: “Everything they’re asking us in interviews ... they ask about the changes that have happened in the business over the last couple of years, in terms of the movement towards equality for women and respect for women.Of course it feels like there’s been some improvement, but it’s only the beginning.”
But the actress believes there has been a negative impact on the way men interact with women, with some afraid to give compliments.
She told Tatler magazine: “This is a worldwide problem. This is a big thing. For us to be commenting, ‘Oh no, you cannot say a woman looks good’ are we f***ing crazy?”
The full interview can be seen in the August issue of TATLER, available on newsstands and digital download on Thursday, June 27 tatler.com.
