TheMix.net

Dolly Parton Reveals Her Long Road to The Top Including Sexual Harassment and Other BS

Country music legend Dolly Parton is sharing her story as a woman in the entertainment industry in hopes of inspiring a new generation of powerful women. Parton revealed that she herself has been sexually harassed many times throughout her decades-long career and shared her thoughts on #MeToo.

The “9 to 5” singer opens up about what she has faced as a woman and how she navigated obstacles to build her overwhelming success and become a “woman of power”.

Dolly Parton Talks Harassment

“I’ve been fortunate, more fortunate than most women have,” Parton, 73, told Elle. “I’ve certainly been harassed in my life. I’ve certainly had to put up with a lot of BS. I was always strong enough to walk away from it and not to have to fall under it.”

“I’ve been fortunate being from a strong family of men, and women, and not being afraid to stand on my own or to say, ‘Go to hell,’ if that’s where you needed to go,” she added.

Dolly Parton Wants Her Career To Inspire Women

Fox News reported that Parton went on to make it clear that she’s always wanted to prove that she can operate with the boys’ clubs just as well as any man can.

She added that she started her Dollywood amusement park and production company in the hopes of inspiring other women, which she believes is what feminism is all about.

“If I’m not a good example of a woman in power, I don’t know who is. I’m out there just promoting mankind, but I am most definitely going to get behind those gals,” Parton said.

Parton added that she has never let sexism hold her back from being a successful businesswoman and entertainer.

“I never felt that I had to cower or to feel like, because I was a girl, I had to do it any different,” she said. “I just believed in myself. Still do. I never thought of it [as being] about being a woman or a man. I thought of it as being an artist, and a writer, and a person of a strong will.”

“I not only didn’t tone it down, I figured if my work was truly good enough, people would eventually recognize that,” Parton continued. “It was about me knowing who I was, being happy with me, and feeling comfortable in the way I presented myself. If I was happy, I could make other people happy.”

Parton Has Faith About The Future

Referencing the #MeToo movement, Parton says there is still a lot to be done in terms of women’s rights. But, the singer songwriter has faith that the younger generation of women will continue this fight.

“We still have a lot of the same problems. I think that we just have to keep working at it,” said Parton. “I think the new #MeToo movement and all that stuff has thrown more light onto it. I think women are in a better place now than they’ve ever been before.”

James Conrad

James Conrad’s passion for politics is only overshadowed by his longstanding interest in Hollywood. His unique perspective as a gay conservative fuels him to challenge celebrity views and those who think they have a right to tell anyone how to think or vote. James proudly wields his minority point of view to combat identity politics and cut through his typecast. Fun fact: James’ guilty pleasure is the British royal family.