Harvey Weinstein is an
accomplished Hollywood producer who has given the world some legendary works. From
Good Will Hunting, to Kill Bill and The Aviator. He is a power in Hollywood, the
decision maker behind who can act in a movie. Holding the careers of many in
the palm of his hands. His ability to blackball a person in tinsel town can
destroy careers and kill labels. Many an actor or actress names him responsible
for their career or a turning point leading to critical success. He’s not the
only critical figure in Hollywood however, for example, Bill Cosby has been a
name widely celebrated for years.
Bill
Cosby is known for opening doors for the black community in Hollywood. He has
been a hero to numerous and has risen to a Jesus like level within black
circles. His straight-laced humor acting as our honorary ‘Father Figure’ and ability
poking fun at the what is commonly seen as wrong with black America is what made
him popular. His Cosby Show ran from the early to late 80’s yet it is widely
known by the millennials and beyond.
Both
these men have stood as figures of good and kindness for years, thus it was a
great shock to America to learn these men are hypocrites. For years there has
been rumors but they’ve either been disproven or ignored. Media outlets have
not even deemed it fit to address these rumors until there was too much noise
for them to ignore. Multiple women have accused these men of sexual misconduct;
however, they were defamed for their accusations. A wide community of
individuals defending these men. Both women and men decrying the accusers as
gold-diggers or fame chasers.
It
took Hannibal Burress, calling Bill Cosby’s hypocrisy on stage, for the world
to take the accusations seriously. Only after everyone started listening did more
accusers come forward. More than 50 women have accused Bill Cosby of rape, he of
course denied these accusations. Yet in his own autobiography, he detailed accounts
of his actions and drugs that were used. A red flagged that no one noticed? A wide
variety of celebrities and fans rose up to defend him and decry these
accusations, however the evidence became too great to ignore. He eventually was
forced to face criminal trial, although in a stroke of luck the jury deadlocked
forcing a mistrial. This opened the floodgates in Hollywood creating the MeToo movement
and the rise of sexual accusations in Hollywood. Harvey Weinstein is one of the
first. Over 80 women have stepped forward in accusation. He has abused his power
and fame and has proceeded to both blackmail individuals. In other instances,
he has had others blackballed because they refused his sexual advances.
The question now is why
did it take men recognizing and calling out this behavior before it was taken
seriously? Hollywood’s casting couch is an open secret, yet it is only now
individuals have been willing to speak on the issue? Why?
Men can get away with almost anything. Men
are given benefit of the doubt and reputations are hard to demolish. They could
beat a woman, rape a woman, harass a woman, and even allowed be these sexual
beings that indulge in fits of primal rage. When a woman speaks out against her
attackers, authorities ask about her sexual history, her lifestyle, sexual
orientation, the types of clothes she usually wears and her job; if the answers
are not satisfactory then the man is usually vilified to some degree. If a man
wishes to be this sexual creature having sex with numerous women at a time he
becomes this hero being called player. These positive connotations comparing
his actions to that of superman. When a woman does the same she is villainized
by members of her gender; being crucified with the label of slut. Men would
judge her at some level and relationships between the two would be strained if
the guy would be willing to date her period. Men are separate from women and
women are not equal to men.
In fact, in modern media there is a show
called Law and Order: SVU. In one episode a porn star who is doing these films
to pave her way through college is exposed to the campus and is then raped by two
different men. These men were convicted by a hung jury only to be released by a
power the judge wields reserved by federal statutes. The judge believed that
the girl was not trustworthy in her claims due to her chosen job, despite the
reasons she took the job in the first place. The boys released and everyone,
including the judge, crucify her. The college expels her; forcing her to become
a full-time porn star because it was the only job she could get by the end of
the show. This depiction shows the immense social norms where it concerns women
and men.
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