Veteran Actress-Filmmaker Jodie Foster Voices Frustration with Gen Z Work Habits
In a recent interview, renowned actress and filmmaker Jodie Foster expressed her exasperation with working alongside members of Generation Z, born between 1997 and 2012. Despite being a vocal supporter of the younger generation and actively involved in mentoring, Foster revealed her challenges with Gen Z individuals in professional settings.
“They’re really annoying, especially in the workplace. They’re like, ‘Nah, I’m not feeling it today, I’m gonna come in at 10.30 a.m.’ Or, like, in emails, I’ll tell them this is all grammatically incorrect, did you not check your spelling? And they’re like, ‘Why would I do that, isn’t that kind of limiting?'” Foster candidly shared with The Guardian.
Despite her frustrations, Foster maintains a close relationship with several Gen Z individuals, including non-binary star Bella Ramsey, 20, whom she asked to introduce her at the Elle magazine Women in Hollywood celebration.
“I reached out to Bella, because we’d never met, and said, ‘I want you to introduce me at this thing,’ which is a wonderful event about actors and people in the movies, but is also very much a fashion thing. Which means it’s determining who represents us,” Foster explained.
Discussing the importance of diverse representations of femininity, Foster emphasized the need for alternative expressions beyond conventional stereotypes. She praised Ramsey for delivering a powerful speech at the event, highlighting the importance of showcasing different ways of being a woman.
Foster, a mother of two sons in their 20s, also spoke about challenging gender stereotypes within her own family. She recounted a moment when her older son struggled with societal expectations of masculinity in high school, emphasizing the importance of redefining what it means to be a man.
“My two don’t like sports. They like to watch movies and sit at home, and they’re really into their female friends. They’re super feminist,” Foster shared, emphasizing her commitment to reaching out to young actresses and fostering an environment that challenges traditional gender norms.
