Jennifer Lawrence takes on media sexism in Hollywood: 'Women aren't at a deficit because we have vaginas'

'How did I do it, getting a period once a month?'

Jennifer Lawrence has discussed her experience of playing the leading character in a film as a woman, saying she didn't realise women were "at a deficit because we have vaginas”, according to a magazine report.

The actress, who has featured in a number of roles not only as the lead actress but also the lead character, discussed media coverage which would acknowledge her success but continue to refer to her gender.

Specifically discussing the character of Katniss Everdeen in the Hunger Games, Glamour magazine reports Lawrence saying: “As women we don’t even know we’re at a deficit because we have vaginas. It wasn’t until they had a headline like, ‘Even though she’s a woman’ And I was like, ‘Oh, I didn’t know to be looking out for that.’ [Baby voice] ‘How did this wittle vagina manage that? I carried a whole movie.”

Making fun of the idea that some think women can’t take on powerful positions due to their femininity, the magazine reports Lawrence joked: “How did I do it, getting a period once a month? We had to take a week off every month… I had to go in my red tent in the desert and wait it out.

“[But] I think there was this studio mentality for a long time that women and girls can relate to a male hero, but boys and men can’t relate to a female hero. But that’s simply not true. And so we’ve fortunately proved that.”

Lawrence made a stand for gender equality in October when she addressed the fact she was paid significantly less than her male co-stars.

After the Sony hack revealed this to be true, Lawrence penned an essay for Lena Dunham’s Lenny newsletter labelling men “lucky people with d***s”.

She continued to criticise herself for not wanting to raise the wage any higher to equal that of her male co-stars because she didn’t want to seem “difficult” or “spoiled” – an issue she didn’t believe men to suffer from as much.

In the Glamour interview Lawrence also voiced her support for Planned Parenthood, which was subject to a mass shooting in its Colorado Springs branch in November. Lawrence says the attack was not one on abortion but “an attack on women”.

Lawrence also explained her personal style, saying although she is often photographed wearing Dior gowns at award ceremonies and premieres, her preferred style is “slutty power lesbian” – something she makes sure her stylist takes note of.