Charlize Theron speaks at Dubai forum, says #MeToo movement is ‘undeniable’

United Nations messenger of Peace and Academy Award winner Charlize Theron spoke at the Global Education and Skills Forum in Dubai on Saturday, and answered several questions on equality for women at the workplace and the #MeToo movement.

According to Gulf News, the 42-year-old said that she was amazed at the number of women who spoke out about their experiences with inequality and sexual harassment, and that that alone is powerful enough to spark change.

“I think that it’s undeniable what’s happening with this women’s movement right now and how incredibly active it is... and for whatever that catalyst was... I don’t care... so long as this conversation continues,” she said.

“I can definitely tell you in my industry, hands down, people are thinking differently, they’re talking differently, their awareness is at a level it’s never been before, and I just don’t see how we’re going to move backwards from that. We can only move forwards,” she added.

On the topic of the pay gap between men and women, Theron said that women always knew that there was some sort of discrepancy, but were in denial of how extreme the gap was.

“This is something that’s now come to life in every industry out there and we are finally looking at the value or what society values about women,” she said.

Theron also spoke about gun violence, revealing that she lost her father to a gun-related incident, and saying that it is “outrageous” how people think that the solution is more guns.