Scarlett Johansson was recently asked a sexist question at a press conference for The Avengers in London.

A reporter first asked Robert Downey Jr. about his character’s development in the films, but then turned to Johansson and asked about her diet.

Reporter: “I have a question to Robert and to Scarlett. Firstly to Robert, throughout Iron Man 1 and 2, Tony Stark started off as a very egotistical character but learns how to fight as a team. And so how did you approach this role, bearing in mind that kind of maturity as a human being when it comes to the Tony Stark character, and did you learn anything throughout the three movies that you made?

“And to Scarlett, to get into shape for Black Widow did you have anything special to do in terms of the diet, like did you have to eat any specific food, or that sort of thing?”

Johansson called out the double standard and asked, “How come you get the really interesting existential question, and I get the like, ‘rabbit food’ question?”

Johansson has previously spoken out about issues such as feminism, female friendship, and the ageism and objectification faced by women in the entertainment industry.

She has supported Planned Parenthood and condemned Hollywood’s ageism against women, calling it “a very vain, vain industry.”

The diet industry and media often place pressure on women to conform to certain body standards, leading to a negative relationship with food and harmful effects on body image.

Sarah at Pop Cultured commented on the situation, saying, “The respect given to you if you’re a man in the entertainment business, and the respect given to you if you’re a woman in the entertainment business: all perfectly summed up in one idiotically thought out line of questioning.”

This objectification of women reinforces sexism and normalizes violence against women. It reinforces the notion that women are nothing more than sex objects for the male gaze.

This was exemplified in the recent cases of Ashley Judd fighting back against toxic bodysnarking and the criticism of Jennifer Lawrence’s body.

The media constantly scrutinizes and critiques women’s bodies, causing harm to their body image.

Eating should be a pleasurable experience, but many women fear food due to the pressure to conform to certain standards.

The dieting industry, with its diet books, exercise DVDs, weight loss shakes, and low-fat foods, is geared towards women and is a money-making juggernaut.

It is ridiculous and offensive that men in the entertainment industry are praised for their minds and talents while women are reduced to their appearances.

The constant objectification of women by the media leads to a normalization of sexism and violence against women.

It is important for more actors and members of the media to follow Johansson’s lead in calling out and standing against these harmful double standards.