Joseph Gordon-Levitt Gives An Amazing Definition Of 'Feminism'

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The 'Sin City: A Dame To Kill For' star shared his ideas of what feminism really means.


500 Days Of Summer
star Joseph Gordon-Levitt may be one of the most beloved young actors in Hollywood today, as well as one of the most vocal. One particular issue he's been open about recently is his stance on feminism.

The writer/director/star of the semi-controversial comedy Don Jon, about a young man, addicted to pornography, who falls in love with a young woman who is addicted to romantic comedies, sat down with The Daily Beast, where he revealed that he considered himself a male feminist.


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Gordon-Levitt, who was being interviewed about his upcoming role as a cocky gambler in Sin City: A Dame To Kill For, was asked about his views on feminism, given that he has often stated that he strongly supports the issue.

"What [feminism] means to me is that you don't let your gender define who you are—you can be who you want to be, whether you're a man, a woman, a boy, a girl, whatever," the 33-year-old Looper star said. "However you want to define yourself, you can do that and should be able to do that, and no category ever really describes a person because every person is unique... So yes, I'd absolutely call myself a feminist."

Gordon-Levitt went on to explain that the mission of feminism should be a concern for everyone, not just entertainers or people in positions of public importance.


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"If you look at history, women are an oppressed category of people. There's a long, long history of women suffering abuse, injustice, and not having the same opportunities as men, and I think that’s been very detrimental to the human race as a whole," Gordon-Levitt added. "I'm a believer that if everyone has a fair chance to be what they want to be and do what they want to do, It's better for everyone. It benefits society as a whole."

Gordon-Levitt's next starring role, in Sin City: A Dame To Kill For, is set to hit theaters August 22. Check out the trailer below.