Scarlett Johansson says Black Widow was hypersexualized when first entering the MCU

And whether it’s catcalling in the streets or generally objectifying comments from men, you’re supposed to take this as a compliment, lest you be written off as “no fun” if you don’t.

In a newly released interview with Collider promoting her upcoming movie “Black Widow,” Johansson talked about the arc of her widely beloved character Natasha Romanoff, or Black Widow.

All of that is related to that move away from the kind of hyper-sexualization of this character and, I mean, you look back at ‘Iron Man 2’ and while it was really fun and had a lot of great moments in it, the character is so sexualized, you know? Really talked about like she’s a piece of something, like a possession or a thing or whatever — like a piece of ass, really.

“At one point calls her a piece of meat and maybe at that time that actually felt like a compliment,” Johansson recalls.

In a society that’s always assigned women’s value and worthiness by how conventionally attractive they are in the eyes of straight men, women and especially young women are often forced to internalize the idea that gross, objectifying comments from men are a compliment, or a reflection of how attractive you are.

“Now people, young girls, are getting a much more positive message, but it’s been incredible to be a part of that shift and be able to come out the other side and be a part of that old story, but also progress.

“We can actually make a movie that’s about real stuff, and audiences want that,” she told Collider.

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