Second Take: Shailene Woodley’s arrest increases publicity for pipeline protest

Footage of a celebrity getting arrested often elicits an exploitative response.

Embarrassed and vulnerable, the last thing celebrities want are more eyes privy to the scene. Shailene Woodley, however, used her arrest as a call to action.

“I hope you’re watching, mainstream media,” she said on camera, as police officers decked out in tactical gear escorted her to their vehicles.

Woodley was arrested for criminal trespassing and engaging in a protest while protesting against the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline on Oct. 10. Her mugshot went viral along with the hashtag #FreeShailene, completing Woodley’s transition from “Divergent” actress to DAPL poster child.

Instead of the well-produced extravagance expected of celebrities championing a cause, the world saw Woodley through a cellphone video with intermittent noise from the North Dakota wind. Woodley took on a grassroots approach to celebrity activism, giving her the opportunity to understand and work alongside the community.

The proposed pipeline, which is set to enter its final phase of construction in November, aims to transport oil from Stanley, North Dakota, to Patoka, Illinois. The project has raised concerns among the Standing Rock Sioux tribe as the pipeline threatens to potentially contaminate their main water source and upheave a sacred burial ground.

In an eloquent defense of the protests and the rights of Native Americans residing near the DAPL construction, Woodley referenced the systemic historical erasure of the struggles Native Americans have faced in the United States. She addressed how the hashtag bearing her name should be modified to #ProtectCleanWater, #HonorNativeTreaties and #IStandWithStandingRock to better reflect the infringed rights of the Standing Rock Sioux tribe.

The centralization of Woodley in the movement questions the true value of a celebrity’s involvement in humanitarian causes. However, Woodley’s involvement in the protests is not superficial. Rather, the justification of her efforts appears grounded in an understanding and sensitivity toward the Standing Rock Sioux. Dave Archambault Sr., the father of the tribal chairman, lauded the sincerity of Woodley’s involvement, giving Woodley direct endorsement from the people her actions aim to help.

[Related: UCLA students protest on campus against Dakota Access pipeline]

Celebrities often choose to champion too broad of a goal, such as the pledge by U2 lead singer Bono to end poverty and hunger in Africa, which fights an uphill battle against a systemic problem. Pledges result in futile attempts at chipping away large problems that world leaders have been attempting to tackle for decades.

Woodley’s insight into the public response of her arrest and her active participation in the protests legitimize her role as an advocate, rather than a public figure with a pet cause. Her actions are directed toward the realistic and specific goal of ending the development of a pipeline, rather than the loftier goal of fixing discrimination against Native Americans in the U.S.

Woodley made personal appearances in Cannon Ball, North Dakota, and added an extra voice alongside protestors fighting for the same goal of halting construction of the DAPL. This elevates her sincerity above other celebrities, such as Leonardo DiCaprio and Mark Ruffalo, who denounced the DAPL through Twitter but didn’t travel to the site themselves.

Although Woodley’s involvement in the DAPL protests occurred in October, the North Dakota campaign continued to generate momentum afterward. Google search trends relating to the protests were greatest in the weeks following Woodley’s arrest. Searches for the term “Shailene Woodley” peaked the day after her arrest. However, the searches were only 54 percent as popular as searches for the term “Standing Rock,” which peaked on Oct. 31.

Increased social media attention ranging from mass Facebook check-ins to new hashtags are likely a response to events such as the staggering arrest of 127 protesters over the course of a single weekend. However, Woodley’s highly-publicized arrest can still be credited as the impetus for increased media coverage and public awareness.

[Read more: Students travel to North Dakota pipeline site in solidarity]

The modern-day celebrity seems to fall into the trap of taking advantage of fame, setting up million-dollar foundations that bear the endorsement of their name or hosting internationally-televised concerts with a message spoken into a mic to make a difference. Maybe the best way for celebrities to become humanitarians is to volunteer and be hands-on.

Woodley’s direct involvement in the DAPL protest has thus far helped to delay the construction of the pipeline and make the pipeline more of a household name. But more importantly, her actions also show us why we shouldn’t always find fault in our stars for taking on humanitarian issues.