Forbes Needs To Change Highest Paid Actors Listings

Yesterday, CMG posted an item which listed the highest paid female actors for the July 2014 to June 2015 timeframe.  Last week CMG reported on the highest compensated male actors.  It should be noted that this was the first time in which non-Hollywood actors were included on each list.

Problem is - why are there two separate lists?  Why not one non-gender based list? By my reckoning, if the lists were combined only two female actors (Jennifer Lawrence and Scarlett Johansson) would have made the combined top 10 list.

Forbes Magazine compiles and publishes the lists which are re-printed by hundreds of newspapers, magazines, blogs, and TV and radio stations worldwide.  Publishing a combined list would highlight (or not) the disparities female actors have been complaining about - it seems forever.  In its defense, Forbes says that it also complies and publishes a 'Global Celebrity 100 List' which is not gender-based and includes musicians and television stars, as well. "Only four female actors made north of $20m, while 21 male stars banked $20m plus.  In order to justly highlight the women who are at the top of their industry, we split the lists", otherwise the list would be too long." says Natalie Robehmed, a Forbes spokesperson. 

Well, isn't that the point, Natalie.  Having a list which exhibits the disparity in wages between male and female actors.  By my measure, women movie stars generate much more press for Hollywood then their male counterparts. The runways are all about women - not men. Product ads (especially for high-end goods and cosmetics) are all about female stars - not male. All if this adds value to Hollywood productions.

A combined list is the way forward. It would highlight the salary disparities between genders and be 'good press' for Forbes.

Jim