Scarlett Johansson has shared her unease and discontentment with her initial Black Widow outfits, believing they were too Sєxualized and unfeasible for her character as a spy. Furthermore, she has encountered Sєxism from the press, being seen as an object and questioned about personal matters such as her attire and lingerie, rather than being acknowledged for her abilities and accomplishments.
Scarlett Johansson recently stood up to Disney for violating her contract by releasing the Black Widow movie on streaming platforms, resulting in a settlement after a public disagreement. Despite starting her career at the young age of nine, Johansson has faced numerous challenges in the entertainment industry. She has been subjected to criticism at film festivals, turned down for roles due to her age, and considered “embarrassingly over-qualified” for some earlier films. However, through perseverance and hard work, Johansson has established herself as a prominent figure in Hollywood and earned the title of highest-grossing box office star of all time.
Undoubtedly, playing the Black Widow in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has been the most significant part of the actress’s profession that brought her worldwide fame. Although gaining recognition for such a massive role has its advantages, it also has its disadvantages as she was among the first female superheroes in the Marvel franchise.
In the movie Iron Man 2, Scarlett Johansson made her debut as the character Black Widow, who was initially portrayed as Tony Stark’s assistant. However, it was later revealed that she was an undercover agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. While this was a significant milestone in Johansson’s career, she candidly expressed her uneasiness with certain aspects of the job, particularly her costume.
Johansson openly confessed that she didn’t like her Black Widow costumes when she first started working on Marvel films. The outfit was clearly created to accentuate her physical features for the audience’s benefit rather than prioritizing her comfort and confidence while wearing it.
During an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the actress expressed her discomfort and feeling of objectification in the attire she wore. She believed that the outfit was excessively focused on Sєxualizing her appearance and impractical for a spy performing various fighting stunts. Despite being labeled as a Sєx symbol repeatedly, Johansson has never aspired to be one. She felt frustrated when people hyperfixated on her physical appearance instead of acknowledging her acting skills. The actress had desired to be recognized as a character actor, but her curvy figure led to her being pigeonholed as a bombshell. From her initial appearance in the franchise, Johansson believed that the character of Natasha Romanoff was overtly Sєxualized.
Scarlett Johansson spoke out about the sєxism she has faced in the media, where she has been objectified and reduced to a piece of ᴀss rather than acknowledged as a superhero. She praised the positive changes being made, such as Black Widow movie costume designer Jany Temime’s efforts to make the costume more comfortable for women. However, female representation in the Marvel franchise has historically been lacking, with only a few films passing the Bechdel test. Johansson has also dealt with double standards in the media, where she is asked shallow questions about her appearance and undergarments while her male co-stars are asked existential questions. Johansson recently sued Disney for breaching her contract by releasing Black Widow on streaming platforms, which significantly impacted her earnings. Despite facing backlash and excuses from Disney, the lawsuit was eventually settled.
