Gwyneth Paltrow, Angelina Jolie and Kate Beckinsale. What do all three of these big-name Hollywood actresses have in common? The seemingly harmless piece of celebrity trivia comes with a winning answer that’s more than cause for alarm. Rather than the generic responses of expensive cars or designer clothes, Paltrow, Jolie and Beckinsale share one horrifying truth: they were sexually harassed by the same powerful movie producer.
On October 5, The New York Times published a shocking exposé on several undisclosed allegations of sexual assault and harassment against the Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein. The initial piece featured interviews of eight alleged victims, including actress Ashley Judd. As of the most recent tally, more than 40 accusations against Weinstein have come to light.
Paltrow, Jolie and Beckinsale, along with numerous other actresses, have revealed their disturbing experiences of sexual harassment and assault by the film mogul. In the caption of a post to Instagram on October 12, Beckinsale detailed an instance in which she rejected Weinstein’s inappropriate advances. She was 17 years old at the time.
Though Weinstein’s acts have occurred since 1980, the allegations of sexual misconduct have mostly been contained within the tight-knit circle of film producers and stars. Instead of the condemnation of such repulsive behavior, Weinstein’s victims were shamed into silence and had received little justice for years. The prolonged tolerance for his despicable treatment of women is a direct result of Weinstein’s social and economic standing. The accusations against Weinstein point to a significant issue in the values of the movie industry yet, it is only one example of the much larger problem of rape culture in America.
Rape culture can be described as a social phenomenon in which rape is normalized and excused. This can be perpetuated in a number of ways, such as blaming the victim for their clothing or alcohol intake rather than the offender for committing the crime. In the case of Harvey Weinstein, his sexual harassment and assault of actresses, models and others was likely classified as a “casting couch” scenario and swept under the rug. According to BBC, the phrase “casting couch” refers to performers exchanging sexual favors for the opportunity to show their suitability for a role. The colloquialism strengthens the false impression that prominent figures, such as film producers, can use their influence as an excuse to sexually harass or assault others.
Of all violent crimes, sexual assault is the least often reported. As stated by RAINN, one of the most cited reasons for not reporting an act of sexual assault is retaliation. This comes as no surprise when the majority of female victims of rape or sexual assault know their offender. Even when a victim has the resources and courage to tell a trusted individual about their sexual assault, they may not receive support. Some face ridicule, doubt or blame. Harvey Weinstein’s victims were forced to remain quiet or face being blacklisted in Hollywood.
Actress Jessica Barth, one of the many accusers of Weinstein, wrote about the impact of silencing victims in an opinion piece for CNN.
“In my own experiences with sexual harassment and assault, I have been made to feel as if I had to compromise my own convictions for the advancement of my career,” Barth wrote. “I was made to believe that my talent and experience should take a back seat to my physical appearance. I was manipulated into believing I had ‘asked for it.’ And I was made to feel that if I spoke out or fought back, the repercussions would make me regret it.”
Weinstein’s victims are not the the only people with voices that have been muted for far too long. To show the magnitude of the issue of sexual assault and harassment, thousands of users have shared their heart-wrenching stories on Twitter through the hashtag “#MeToo.” Actress Alyssa Milano called attention to the #MeToo campaign on Sunday, October 15.
“The most important thing that it did was to shift the conversation away from the predator and to the victim,” Milano stated in an Associated Press Interview.
The recent discussions about sexual assault and harassment have been poignant to say the least. Nevertheless, the noise that allegations against Weinstein and the #MeToo campaign have generated continues to fall dozens of decibels below what is needed for change.
Silencing victims is not exclusively a Hollywood problem. It is long overdue for the global society to recognize the gravity of sexual assault and make justice for victims a priority. Rape and sexual assault are violent crimes. There is no room for silence where they are concerned.
Photo by Psych Central
