Much of the society we live in is focused on the worship of the masculine ideal. It’s not only religion that is largely knob-centric, but the bulk of advertising, entertainment and popular culture is also geared towards the male. Women are the also-rans. Just think about how few films and television programmes pass the Bechdel Test (more on that later!)

I know I’ve ranted on incessantly in this blog about the woman-shaped-gap in history, spirituality and sex, so I’m always reassured when it turns out not to just be me who’s noticed. Helen Mirren received the “Sherry Lansing Leadership Award” at yesterday’s Hollywood Reporter’s “Women In Entertainment” event and gave an awesome acceptance speech about women, the movie industry and the positive changes seen within her own lifetimes. There’s still a long way to go though, as she made very clear:

“Really, not too much has changed in the canon of Hollywood filmmaking that continues to worship at the altar of the 18 to 25-year-old male and his penis.”

Quite.

Click here to read about the event and watch the video of Mirren’s acceptance speech at Jezebel.com.