Halle Berry encourages her son to rethink gender stereotypes

Halle Berry encourages her son to rethink gender stereotypes

"If we want to have a future that's different, that is where it starts," Halle says about teaching her seven-year-old son about sexism. 

Halle Berry
Halle Berry/ Instagram

It is never too early to teach your children about gender stereotypes. Academy award-winner, Halle Berry, has revealed that she is raising her son, Maceo Martine, to question thinking that causes prejudice based on one's sex. 

"I have a 7-year-old son, and I have realised what my job is in raising him. If we want to have a future that's different, you're right, that is where it starts," she said.

The 54-year-old made the comments while appearing on a  virtual panel. The panel, which was hosted by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, was dubbed 'Women Breaking Barriers: An Industry Shift'. 

ALSO READ: Elon Musk's mother knew he was a genius when he was three

Actress Robin Wright stressed the importance of educating children about equality.

Halle revealed that she started conversations about gender stereotypes when her son was just five years old. 

"You made me think of how many conversations I've had with him, say, since he turned 5 years old, about the differences in boys and girls, and I see how he's taught to feel like he's superior, at 5, than girls are and I am having to painfully break that down for him. 

"...I can tell that because we're having those conversations he is going to grow as a deep thinker on the subject. He's going to be determined not to just accept it because I keep challenging him all the time, like, 'Well, why is that for girls and why is that a girl's color?'"

ALSO READ: Government proposes to amend laws to include third gender on birth certificates

Halle will soon make her directorial debut in her new movie, 'Bruised'. She also talked about some of the challenges she faced as a female director on set. 

Zendaya, Sia, Andra Day, Elisabeth Sereda, and Silvia Bizio also made an appearance on the virtual panel. Listen to what they had to say below. 

Show's Stories