Halle Berry opens up about confronting sexism with her seven-year-old son

'He's taught to feel like he's more superior, at five, than girls are,’ said the Oscar-winner

Halle Berry has opened up about conversations she has had with her young son about sexism and gender equality.

The Catwoman star appeared alongside Zendaya, Robin Wright, Sia and Andra Day on a virtual panel called Women Breaking Barriers: An Industry Shift, as part of the Sundance Film Festival.

“I have a seven-year-old son,” she told the audience (per People), “and I have realised what my job is in raising him. If we want to have a future that's different, that is where it starts.”

Berry described the ways in which her son is “taught” subconscious sexist stereotypes, and detailed how she tried to give him a “new perspective”.

“You made me think of how many conversations I've had with him, say, since he's turned five years old, about the differences in boys and girls, and I see how he's taught to feel like he's more superior, at five, than girls are,” said the Oscar-winner.

Berry, top right, as seen on the panel alongside Robin Wright, Andra Day and Zendaya (Getty Images for the HFPA)

“I've had to really break that down for him and give him a new perspective, and challenge those thoughts and ask him to identify where that comes from, and if he believes that or not and challenge what he's subconsciously getting from somewhere.”

Berry added that she thinks her son will “grow as a deep thinker on the subject” thanks to their conversations. 

“I keep challenging him all the time, like, 'Well, why is that a 'girl colour?'” she said.

Berry recently made her directorial debut with the boxing film Bruised, which will debut on Netflix later this year.