On December 11, the Association of National Advertisers (ANA) and A&E Network partnered at the “22nd Annual Critics’ Choice Awards” to introduce and present actress Viola Davis with the first-ever #SeeHer award.
The #SeeHer Initiative’s mission is to accurately portray all women and girls in media by 2020, the 100th anniversary of women winning the right to vote.
“Davis embodies the values set forth by the #SeeHer mission, including pushing boundaries on changing stereotypes and her recognition of the importance of accurately portraying women across the entertainment landscape,” the press release explained.
Spearheaded by the ANA, a marketing and advertising association, #SeeHer was launched in June 2016 in a joined partnership with The Girl’s Lounge, after the White House announced that it was critical for the nation’s future to eliminate gender bias in media.
“#SeeHer is addressing an important issue in today’s society,” said Bob Liodice, ANA CEO, in a press release. “We are proud to be leading the movement with marketers and our industry. Partnering with A&E for this new award and having critics recognize a trailblazer who has advanced the #SeeHer initiative is a key milestone for us.”
In her acceptance speech, the “How to Get Away with Murder star stated:
“I think my strongest power is that at 10 o’clock every Thursday night, I want you to come into my world. I am not going to come into yours. You come into my world and you sit with me, my size, my hue, my age, and you… you sit. And you experience. And I think that’s the only power I have as an artist, so I thank you for this award. And I do see her, just as I see me.”
Amy Adams presented the award to Davis, explaining that the #SeeHer Award looks for heroes and role models.
Adams continued on to say: “Media and entertainment play such a key role in how women and girls see themselves. It’s important that we make sure they are portrayed as they are in real life. There are women at NASA, in Congress, and on the Supreme Court. They run board rooms and families and even aspire to the nation’s highest offices… Viola believes that you don’t live someone else’s life, someone else’s idea of what womanhood is. Womanhood is everything that’s inside of you.”
