This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at McGill chapter.

Harvey Weinstein is not Hollywood’s only problem child.

Just a few weeks after The New York Times published their story detailing the numerous allegations of sexual harassment made against Weinstein, new allegations have emerged against other powerful men in Hollywood. Actors Kevin Spacey, Ben Affleck, and George Takei, director Brett Ratner, and comedian Louis C.K., just to name a few, have all been accused of sexual misconduct in the passing days. The latter, in a statement released on the 10th of November, admitted that “These stories are true,” confirming the claims made by five women that he had masturbated in front of them.

“Casting couch” culture, the trading of sexual favours in order to win roles, is nothing new for Hollywood, dating as far back as the origins of film itself. Indeed, silent film director Roscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle was accused of raping and “accidentally” murdering actress Virginia Rappe in 1921.

Thus, it seems that sexual assault and harassment has always been Hollywood’s open secret–so open that public figures and TV programs can make blatant references about such incidents without any consequences for those named. In 2013, Seth MacFarlane, host of the 85th Academy Awards, offered his “congratulations” to the five nominees for Best Supporting Actress, declaring that they “no longer have to pretend to be attracted to Harvey Weinstein.” Family Guy, MacFarlane’s brainchild, in 2005 would also predict the allegations of sexual assault of a minor made against Kevin Spacey. In the scene in question, one-year-old Stewie Griffin runs through a shopping mall naked, screaming, “Help! I’ve escaped from Kevin Spacey’s basement! Help me!”

And yet, nothing. No media frenzy. These are men so high up on the Hollywood food chain that even a point-blank accusation will turn no heads. And that is exactly the problem.

According to Constance Scharff, an addiction expert, “There are people who are so powerful that they begin to feel they are above the law and social norms…An individual can begin to feed their predilections without fear of consequence…This behaviour is generally about feeling like you either won’t be caught or if you are, there will be no consequences.”

What can be done to cleanse Hollywood of its toxic culture?

For one, we can take power away from the previously untouchable. Dr. Pat Harned, the chief executive officer of the Ethics and Compliance Initiative, believes that “the more power leaders have, the less likely they are to show empathy, compassion, and true helpfulness towards others.” Hollywood is an industry shrouded in extreme secrecy, enabling the abuser to continue their harmful behaviour without repercussions. Victims of sexual assault, in turn, are often hesitant to speak out because they feel they are jeopardizing their career if they do so. Actress Rose McGowan, one of more than 30 women to come forward about Harvey Weinstein, asserts that “[The film industry] blame[s] the victim…People are bred to be scared.” After all, one needs not to look any further than McGowan to understand the possible career consequences of going public. McGowan, describing the difficulty finding work in Hollywood after her attack, states that, “I was blacklisted after I was raped, because I got raped, because I said something.”

The emergence of the social media era, however, is allowing the common person to take a peek behind the curtain. The #MeToo campaign, which encourages victims of sexual assault and harassment to speak about their experiences, has created a strong, supportive community for survivors and has most importantly made it well known that they are not alone. It is no coincidence that once one victim speaks out, others are quick to follow.

So, to answer the question: can Hollywood change its culture in the post-Weinstein era?

Maybe.

But only if we remain vigilant.

Only if we hold people accountable and demand answers.

And most importantly, only if we listen when people speak.

Information Sources:

http://www.cnn.com/2017/10/25/us/list-of-accused-after-weinstein-scandal-trnd/index.html

https://www.buzz.ie/movies-tv/alex-borstein-family-guy-kevin-spacey-joke-261323

https://www.forbes.com/sites/alicegwalton/2017/11/11/why-do-high-powered-men-masturbate-in-front-of-women/#2f6996169815

https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/oct/14/harvey-weinstein-rose-mcgowan-rape-film

http://variety.com/2017/biz/columns/ethics-harvey-weinstein-scandal-work-culture-bullying-1202599414/

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