The Silent Make Noise
The end of 2017 signaled what will be the most influential era of Hollywood: the fight to end sexual harassment and assault of women and men in the industry and across the world. It all began in October 2017 after prominent producer Harvey Weinstein was accused by multiple women of sexual harassment, assault, and misconduct over the course of his thirty year career. After Weinstein’s accusations came to light, many more men and women have come forward and named other actors such as Kevin Spacey, Dustin Hoffman, and others.
As a way to allow for men and women to share their stories of abuse and harassment to spread awareness, actress Alyssa Milano helped create a campaign using the hashtag #MeToo on Twitter. The campaign, which began in 1997 by Tarana Burke, gained a lot of traction and has since allowed for many people to share their stories out of hope for social change.
The weekend of the Golden Globes proved that Hollywood and the rest of the world will continue to fight against sexual assault and harassment. Before the Golden Globes aired on Sunday, Lifetime aired a film, “A Tale of Two Coreys”, which provided a glimpse into the sexual abuse of two real-life actors in the industry during the 1980s. The film touched upon the everlasting effects of abuse and reiterated the message that sexual abuse and harassment of men and women in Hollywood needs to stop.
Although the Lifetime film has not received the same critical attention as the Golden Globes, the message is clear: Hollywood and many people around the world are not going to be silent anymore. In protest of sexual assault and harassment, many men and women in the industry wore black at the Golden Globes to honor victims. In addition, the jokes and speeches made throughout the night centered around the serious issue of sexual assault. If the Golden Globes is any indication of the future, let us believe that Hollywood will continue to unravel and more abusers will be named in the industry as more victims come forward. Moreover, the #MeToo campaign will continue to serve as a platform for men and women all over the world to share their stories, spark social change, and allow for them to heal.
Sexual assault and harassment is a major issue in our society. Many people have either been sexually abused or have witnessed sexual abuse. According to the Connecticut Alliance to End Sexual Violence, one in four women and one in six men will be sexually assaulted in their lifetime. Our society needs to change these numbers and be more open regarding the discussion and reporting of sexual abuse. If we allow sexual abuse to happen then we are not enforcing change; we are averting it.
Lifetime Movie
Golden Globes Protest
Sexual Assault Information