Meryl Streep has been privately working with a group of actresses to develop a plan for how to address sexism in Hollywood.

The actress was speaking to legendary feminist activist Gloria Steinem at a women’s conference in Massachusetts when she revealed her behind-the-scenes activities.

“Right now, I’m getting together with a bunch of actresses that you know very well, and we’re all sort of going to make a set of non-negotiable demands,” she said, according to People.

Shortly after it was alleged that Harvey Weinstein had sexually harassed and assaulted multiple women, Streep – who has worked with the disgraced producer on several films – released a statement condemning her former collaborator and praising the women who spoke out against him as “heroes”. (Weinstein has denied all allegations of non-consensual sex.)

Speaking to Steinem, Streep said that she believes that men like Weinstein are in part able to prosper because of a lack of women in leadership positions.

“I think I’m very hopeful that the world is changing. I think in this world now of opportunity there’s so many great opportunities for women to enter different jobs, different enterprises,” she said.

“But to rise, [women have] to get up to that top layer which [men] kinda still keep for themselves. There are always three women on a board, and then there are 9 or 12 or 14 other people. Equal means equal.

“And if it starts at the top, none of these shenanigans would have filtered down and been tolerated.”

Meryl Streep is assembling a crack team of women to tackle Hollywood sexism