Life Lessons from Jameela Jamil’s Talk at USC

By: Antonia Le ‘22

On October 28, actress and activist Jameela Jamil came to USC and spoke at Bovard Auditorium in a discussion moderated by Dr. Stacy Smith, of USC’s Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism. Jamil’s talk at USC was sponsored by USC’s very own SAGE (Student Assembly for Gender Empowerment), working with USG, USC Speakers Committee, ISA, and SCIA. During the event, Jamil spoke about self-love, being an activist, and staying strong in the face of criticism and adversity. If you had to miss the event, here are some bits of wisdom from Jamil that should be heard by everyone.

Change doesn’t happen overnight.

Most people know Jameela Jamil from her role as Tahani Al-Jamil on NBC’s The Good Place, which was her first acting role ever. Fewer know that she’s actually been in the entertainment business since 2009. Before moving to America and becoming an actress, Jamil worked as a TV and radio host in the United Kingdom. Though she’s only exploded into our consciousness with her I Weigh movement recently, she’s been speaking up regarding issues of body shaming and feminism since she entered the entertainment industry. In her words, “I’ve been talking about these issues for ten years.” 

Jamil’s long years of hard work have paid off. She told the audience that her I Weigh campaign, which she has described as “a resistance movement against shame,” is turning into a company next year. Through years of hard work, Jamil has achieved a position that she can leverage to truly make a difference. 

Remember what you’re fighting for.

Near the end of the event, a student asked Jamil how she continued in her activist work in the face of haters and adversity. To this, Jamil told the audience that she finds courage through her rage. She expressed that it wasn’t easy to speak up, but her anger and her need to fix things outweighed her fear. “I hate that you have been left with a mess to clean up,” Jameela Jamil told us. She expressed that she has made it her duty to help us clean up the mess of toxic beauty standards as much as she can.

Maintain solidarity. 

During her talk, Jamil spoke upon diversity in media, touching on a subject most people don’t acknowledge when talking about representation: disability and ableism. Jamil expressed that she has struggled to have a voice in the entertainment industry as a woman of color, and those struggles make her want to create space for others, including those with disabilities. She argued that those with disabilities can often be more poorly represented than women and people of color, saying “We don’t make films for people with disabilities.” 

She shared an anecdote in which she was offered the role of a deaf character. Jamil, who was deaf as a child, ended up turning it down. “That’s someone else’s role,” she said. In many cases, film or television characters with disabilities are played by actors who do not have said disability, which deprives important representation for real-life people with disabilities and can prevent authentic stories from being told. By turning down the role and using her privilege as a famous hearing to advocate for better casting, Jamil showcases the importance of looking out for people outside of your community. In Jamil’s eyes, the best thing people can do is provide support for one another.

Jameela Jamil stated a similar idea when a student asked her how to become a better activist. “Don’t let activism become a competitive space,” she asserted. She emphasized that her I Weigh movement was not a solo effort; it became a cultural phenomenon because of the participation of many people around the world. She argued that it’s easy to get into your own head and think that you, alone, have to be the best at doing the best, but this is not the case. In fact, according to her, the biggest impacts are made when people work together. 

Know when to step back and take care of yourself.

During a Q&A session at the end of the event, a student who asked Jamil for advice for dealing with people who did not take their illness seriously. The student shared they have a chronic illness similar to Jamil’s. Jamil has a chronic disorder known as Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, which is a relatively unknown and not easily visible illness that can make everyday life difficult. Those who suffer from this or another invisible illness often have their experiences minimized by the people around them. To the student, Jamil suggested, “If someone is denying you your own experience, get away from them.” She emphasized that people should take care of their mental health first and foremost, even if that means cutting unhealthy or toxic people out. 

However, along with her message of self-care, Jamil also had some words to say for those trying to become activists. She said, “Build yourself up from the inside before trying to take care of the world around you,” arguing that it’s difficult to do anything if one is burnt out. She stressed the importance of self-care and making sure you’re ready to take on a challenge before you dive in headfirst.

Jamil even went so far as telling her audience, “Feel free to mute me [on social media].” She acknowledged that scrolling through her Tweets, which often deal with stressful issues, can be emotionally exhausting sometimes. She told her audience that there was nothing wrong with choosing not to consume stressful or emotionally taxing content, and it is always okay to take a break if one needs it to recharge.

Don’t conform to everybody else’s wants.

Jameela Jamil has made a name for herself by challenging the idea of what a woman should act or look like in a public space, and she was no different when she came to USC. During her talk, she revealed how cognizant she was of her public image as she divulged, “People think I’m annoying because I am”. However, Jamil said she did not let this faze her. Instead, she continued to be herself. 

Jamil also told us, “Don’t be likable.” She explained that that women and minorities often have to conform to certain ideals and be “likable,” whereas white men don’t. Seeing this double standard, Jamil highlighted that it’s okay to forego being likable to help the world or to help oneself. In the end, Jameela Jamil’s commitment to her authentic self has made her an inspiration to people all over the world.

With her wit, charm, and compassion, Jameela Jamil lit up Bovard Auditorium and inspired a whole audience of USC Trojans. Seeing her talk in person, it’s easy to understand how she became so popular both in the UK and in the US. When the event ended, I left feeling like I could change the world, and I know that other people did too.

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