Actress Alyssa Milano started the #MeToo campaign over the weekend, and since her tweet, thousands of victims of sexual assault and harassment have spoken up and identified themselves on social media. We’d like to say we are surprised by the numbers, but sadly, we aren’t. Women have been dealing with this our entire lives, and there have been periods in history, like this one, when sexual harassment and assault is in the spotlight. But just how much of an effect will it have? Harvey Weinstein faced real repercussions for his actions this time, as only the second person to be expelled from The Motion Picture Academy.
The academy released a statement after his removal, saying, “We do so not simply to separate ourselves from someone who does not merit the respect of his colleagues but also to send a message that the era of willful ignorance and shameful complicity in sexually predatory behavior and workplace harassment in our industry is over. What’s at issue here is a deeply troubling problem that has no place in our society. The Board continues to work to establish ethical standards of conduct that all Academy members will be expected to exemplify.”
Dozens of women in Hollywood have since come forward, and the #MeToo campaign continues to gain traction on social media. Did you share your story? Do you think this will usher in long-lasting change? Weigh in.
And FYI, the academy has twenty-one female board members, and a female chief executive, Dawn Hudson.
