Kristen Bell: Modern activist

Kristen Bell 

Known for her role in Disney's Frozen, NBC's The Good Place, The CW's Veronica Mars, and many more films and TV shows, Kristen Bell has used her platform to bring awareness to women's rights. In 2017, Bell tweeted ""Feminism is the radical notion that women are human beings" -@margotwallstrom Rock on, margot"" (1). Even though Bell receives backlash over her loud-and-proud feminist attitude, this has not stopped her from continuing to be a prominent activist in many ways. She also uses her status and platform to support LGBTQ+ rights, environmental concerns, and various charity work. For example, even though she became engaged to now-husband Dax Shepard in 2010, Bell and Shepard decided to delay their wedding until same-sex marriage was legal in all states, and finally tied the knot in 2013 (3). Bell and Shepard also founded the company Hello Bello, a plant-based baby care line sold exclusively in Walmart (3). 

Bell pictured with her husband, Dax Shepard

While feminism isn't her only platform, it is one of her most well-known. In 2018, Bell became recognized as the "first global activist for the Women's Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF)", a role that puts Bell in the front lines of women that are working to change the world for the collective better (4). The WPHF is a partnership between the UN that financially supports many women's organizations that fight for peace. In a podcast episode with the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace, and Security, Kristen Bell reflected on the importance of women in society and why she supports the WPHF. In response to one of the host's question, Bell recognizes the position she is in by stating:

"You know if I can have 16 year olds, 24 year olds, 30 year olds, who don’t know anything about philanthropy, liking my shows and following my Instagram account... and I...say, “This is, you know, a top priority for me right now, because people are suffering. Did you guys know about this?” I mean I was somehow given this crazy key to unlock doors that bring people together. And I do not underestimate what a responsibility that is" (2).

Knowing that her platform gives her the ability to reach a larger community and use her social medias to expose issues in the world, Bell has created a name for herself in the feminist community. As the global activist for WPHF, she launched a program called 40by20, a campaign to raise $40 million for women's organizations by 2020. The monetary goal will allow the WPHF to provide assistance to roughly 19 more countries in need (5). 

Bell in her Pinksourcing ad

Besides her work with the Women's Peace and Humanitarian Fund, Bell has starred in many commercials, advertisements, and talk shows to lend her humor to her activism. Interviews on motherhood and how she raises her daughters to be feminists, and sarcastic commercials about women in the workforce, like her HuffPost commercial titled "Pinksourcing", make Kristen Bell's presence in feminism stronger with every view. Taking advantage of her fame and passions, Bell has become the epitome of the modern feminist movement.

References:

(1) Bell, Kristen. “‘Feminism Is the Radical Notion That Women Are Human Beings’- @Margotwallstrom Rock on, Margot.” Twitter, Twitter, 19 Sept. 2017, https://twitter.com/KristenBell/status/909983526061305856.

(2) GIWPS. “EP 1: Why Women with Kristen Bell.” Georgetown Institute of Women Peace and Security, 31 Jan. 2019, https://giwps.georgetown.edu/seekingpeace/whywomen/.

 (3) “Kristen Bell.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 6 Sept. 2019,https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kristen_Bell#Personal_life.

(4) WPHF. “Global: Kristen Bell to Serve as Advocate for Women's Peace & Humanitarian Fund.” Women's Peace and Humanitarian Fund, 27 Feb. 2018, http://wphfund.org/kristen-bell-serve-global-advocate-womens-peace-humanitarian-fund/.

(5) WPHF. “Kristen Bell Launches WPHF 40by20 for Women.” Women's Peace and Humanitarian Fund, http://wphfund.org/change-maker-kristen-bell-launches-wphfs-40by20-women/.