Following Donald Trump’s distressing win on Election Night, much of America is still dealing with feeling lost. Scores of celebrities have begun to offer words of encouragement as we confront the four years ahead, pushing people to move forward in the wake of defeat. Now, Jennifer Lawrence’s essay on Trump asks us to take note from the very leader so many people forcefully rallied behind, pointing to Hillary Clinton as an everlasting beacon of hope.
In an op-ed published by Vice’s Broadly on Thursday, the actor reflects on what we can learn from this taxing but revelatory election, and the candidate we lost to it. Lawrence urges Americans to come together in a time of nationwide divide to educate ourselves and to work “twice as hard as the man next to us because we know now that it is not fair.” She also asks us to swallow some hard truths, and to mirror the resilience Clinton has shown throughout her career. Part of the Democrat's appeal was her tireless service to this country, which has historically been led by men, and her urgency to make change in spite of the limits that have so long attempted to stifle us.
As a vocal advocate for women’s rights, it’s a sentiment Lawrence knows well. Last October, she attempted to shatter some of her own Hollywood ceilings after discovering she was paid less than her American Hustle co-stars. “I would be lying if I didn’t say there was an element of wanting to be liked that influenced my decision to close the deal without a real fight,” J. Law wrote for Lena Dunham’s Lenny Letter. “I didn’t want to seem ‘difficult’ or ‘spoiled.’ At the time, that seemed like a fine idea, until I saw the payroll on the internet and realized every man I was working with definitely didn’t worry about being ‘difficult’ or ‘spoiled.’”
Looking back, there are a lot of ties between Clinton and Lawrence’s experiences. Both are successful women in their male-dominated fields, and both have been judged or been driven to act by their measure of likability. Now, Lawrence asks us to continue our uphill climb — this time sharper, stronger, and more powerful than ever. “Like Hillary, you can still be an inspiration and get important things done. Do not let this defeat you — let this enrage you! Let it motivate you! Let this be the fire you didn't have before,” she wrote. “If you are an immigrant, if you are a person of color, if you are LGBTQ+, if you are a woman — don't be afraid, be loud!”
