Millie Bobby Brown has shed more light on Hollywood’s hyper-sexualization of young girls.
The Stranger Things star addressed the long-standing issue during a recent appearance on The Guilty Feminist. She told hosts Deborah Frances-White and Susan Wokoma she’s endured inappropriate behavior throughout her career, but she’s noticed a “gross” difference since becoming a legal adult earlier this year.
“I deal with the same things any 18-year-old is dealing with, navigating being an adult and having relationships and friendships, and it’s all of those things,” she said during the March 31 sit-down. “Being liked and trying to fit in, it’s all a lot, and you’re trying to find yourself while doing that. The only difference is that obviously, I’m doing that in the public eye.”
Brown received her big break at the age of 12, when she was casted as Eleven on the hit Netflix show Stranger Things. The British-born actress turned 18 back in February, just several months before the series’ season 4 premiere.
“It can be really overwhelming,” Brown said of being sexualized by the press and social media users. “I have definitely been dealing with that more in the last couple weeks of turning 18. Definitely seeing a difference between the way people act, and the way that the press and social media have reacted to me becoming of age.”
She continued: “But it’s gross and it’s true and so I think it’s just a very good representation of what’s going on in the world and how young girls are sexualized and so I have been dealing with that but have also been dealing with that for forever.”
Brown addressed the issue a couple of years ago in a lengthy Instagram message posted on her 16th birthday. She admitted that growing up in the public wasn’t easy, but refused to be hindered by any negativity.
“There are moments I get frustrated from the inaccuracy, inappropriate comments, sexualization, and unnecessary insults that ultimately have resulted in pain and insecurity for me,” she wrote, “but not ever will I be defeated. I’ll continue doing what I love and spreading the message in order to make change.”
