Sexual assault is one of the most heinous crimes anyone could experience, and with all the news lately about Harvey Weinstein, it’s obviously still prevalent today.
The number of people coming forward reporting that Weinstein, co-founder of Miramax and former co-chairman of The Weinstein Company, sexually harassed and/or assaulted them continues to rise. Many of these allegations claim Weinstein has been a sexual predator for many years, starting as early as 1984.
These acts were not only known to the victims, it was a well-known secret within the film industry, and according to an article in Rolling Stone, his “actions appear to have been abetted and normalized by executives, assistants and producers in his employ.”
How could this go on for so long without any of the victims speaking out until now? Many of the victims that have come forward have said it is because of fear. Weinstein has so much power and reach within the film industry they were worried that if they spoke out it could jeopardize their careers.
Often these victims also felt guilt or shame for it. They blame themselves for not being strong enough to resist.
The amount of power Weinstein had can create a domination culture, which is where those in power feel the need to assert themselves over others, especially women. With that much power and influence those victims can feel like they have no one to turn to.
In an article in The Wrap, an entertainment news site, journalist Sharon Waxman wrote that in 2004 while working as a reporter for The New York Times she looked into allegations of sexual misconduct by Weinstein, but the story she reported never ran.
She “was told at the time that Weinstein had visited the newsroom in person to make his displeasure known.” After that visit, her story “was stripped of any reference to sexual favors or coercion and buried on the inside of the Culture section.”
This sort of domination culture is not just confined to the film industry, or even other big businesses. It can be found throughout the nation; in many businesses, universities and even in personal relationships.
These issues have always existed, but it wasn’t until more recently that they have been considered a problem. To have dominance over someone, especially men over women, was considered normal, and even celebrated, until the middle of the 20th Century.
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was a turning point in establishing more equal rights for women, yet changes are still needed.
One change that needs to be implemented is to ensure victims have the proper channels to report sexual assault without the fear of repercussion.
The U.S. military, which has had many scandals associated with sexual assault in recent decades, has had a lot of success in fighting this problem by taking away the power of commanders to sweep allegations of sexual assault under the rug.
If better systems were created for reporting these assaults, and the perpetrators were given fitting punishment, this domination culture could finally be dismantled.
Laws for sexual misconduct are different in each state, and most of them are vague as to what is considered assault, harassment or misconduct. The punishments also vary greatly, and are typically so minor they do nothing to deter these criminals.
All too often if the crime is not a rape, the victim will go through a terrifying ordeal in court, only to have the defendant get off with a slap on the wrist, if they are convicted at all. In most cases of sexual harassment, they are typically dismissed before a jury even hears the case.
Without a fundamental change away from a domination culture, there will always be a problem of sexual misconduct. We need to see those in power held accountable for their actions, and start protecting all those exposed to this abuse.
Daniel Riley
Reporter