While it was impossible not to notice that nearly every woman at this year’s Golden Globe awards wore a black dress and a Time’s Up pin, there was another feminist fashion statement being made that night.
Tom Hanks and Sterling K. Brown, both up for awards, were each wearing a special accessory for the evening: a delicate pearl hat pin in their left lapels.
The jewelry had particular significance, and was just another way the stars showed their support of women that evening. Provided by Pinned By Pearls, they showed the actors’ commitment to promoting female directors, producers, writers, and actresses in Hollywood.
Ally: Tom Hanks was one of several actors to wear a pearl hat pin in his lapel at award shows this year (pictured at the Golden Globes
Supportive: Sterling K. Brown (pictured at the Globes) also wore a pin, which was provided by the organization Pinned by Pearls
The men who wore the pins (including The Shape of Water star Richard Jenkins, pictured at the SAG Awards) were doing so to show their commitment to working with women
Pinned by Pearls launched in time for award show season this year, and already had representatives on the red carpet at the Golden Globes and the SAG Awards.
According to the organization, the pin signifies a pledge taken by the man who wears it.
The pledge states: ‘I am actively looking for projects directed, produced, written by and starring women, as well as other marginalized voices. I believe our industry culture will only heal when there are new, diverse voices in power. I wear this pin because I don’t want to stand by; I want to stand up for change.’
Hanks, Brown, and The Shape of Water star Richard Jenkins were some of the first to take the pledge, with Hanks and Jenkins both wearing them next to their Time’s Up pins at the Globes. Screenwriter and producer William Day Frank also wore a pin that night.
Brown and Jenkins wore theirs again at the SAG Awards a couple weeks later, and were joined by The Handmaid’s Tale star O. T. Fagbenle, and Access Hollywood host Scott Evans.
Brian Tyree Henry had his on his bomber jacket at Entertainment Weekly’s SAG Awards party a few days before.
The pins signify a pledge to actively seek out projects with female directors, screenwriters, producers, and actresses
O. T. Fagbenle — who stars in the female-centric series The Handmaid’s Tale — showed his commitment, too (pictured at the SAG Awards)
There for the cause: Brown wore the pin at two award shows this year
Access Hollywood’s Scott Evans wore one of the vintage pins at the SAG Awards
Brian Tyree Henry wore one between two of his buttons at Entertainment Weekly’s SAG party
With the movement clearly growing, it seems likely more stars will turn up in pins at the Grammy Awards tonight, as well as the Oscars on March 4.
Speaking to Today, Pinned By Pearls founders Suzanne Zoe and Jennie Tucker stressed the importance of men’s role when it comes to achieving equality.
‘We started Pinned By Pearls because we saw an opportunity for men in Hollywood to recognize their own industry influence and use it for positive change,’ they said.
‘It is vital that men listen as women speak out. However, as women, we believe change will only happen when men also engage with the issues through action.
‘Representation — both in front of and behind the camera — will disrupt the long-standing power dynamic that has enabled pay inequality, sexual abuse, and marginalization,’ they said.
On Instagram, the organization points to troubling statistics, including that 82.4 per cent of film directors in 2013 and 2014 were Caucasian males. An addition 11.2 per cent were minority males, and a combined 6.4 per cent were women.
The organization wants to get men involved in promoting equality for women
The hat pin is a throwback to the ones suffragists wore in the early twentieth century
As for how they settled on a pearl hat pin as a symbol, the organization’s website explains that they looked back to suffragist, who had a similar symbol.
‘We’ve chosen the hat pin as a symbol because of its historical connection to women’s suffrage and empowerment.
‘Hatpins were a memorable part of the suffragette ensemble. The pointy pins were also women’s improvised, defensive weapon of choice. So much so that in the early 1900s, their length was even outlawed in many American cities.
A pearl, meanwhile, ‘represents how something beautiful can form from a single grain of sand. The small action of taking this pledge can be a first step towards industry-wide change.’
Pinned by Pearls doesn’t actually make the pins, but finds and repurposes vintage ones for the new cause.
‘By connecting to history, we want to honor the long-fought battle for equality in this country. In finding a new use for old objects, we aim for a small environmental footprint, and to shed light on the unrecognized tools all around us.’