In the workplace, there might not be any difference once the power differential gets but so big between predator and prey.
BACKGROUND: In case you've been living under a rock: A huge movie mogul by the name of Harvey Weinstein has been accused of sexual harassing dozens of female actresses over the years. At least one woman has accused him of rape. Many famous actresses including Rose McGowan (quasi-famous) and Angelina Jolie have reported having problems with Weinstein.
Weinstein is trying to pretend he has a sexual addiction problem much like an alcoholism problem...instead of his having a being-a-predator problem.
And now other movie studio executives and movie actors like Ben Affleck and not so long ago his brother Casey Affleck have been sucked into the sexual harassment whirlwind....and justifiably so, because they are predators too.
All we're talking about now is the level of predator.
MEN AS GATEKEEPERS AND PROTECTORS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT
The gatekeepers in Hollywood, and most businesses, are usually men.
One of these gatekeeper men was Ben Affleck's keeper when he was a young up-and-comer. Affleck was so sure of his protection as a man that he squeezed a woman's breast knowing perfectly damn well he wouldn't lose his job or even be criticized if she had the nerve to officially report him.
And Hilare Burton didn't report him -- even though there's video of him grabbing her breast
Ben Affleck was so sure of his power he assaulted her on camera. And Hilarie Burton was so sure of his power over her that she laughed it off.
You know what else Hilarie Burton and women like myself know? There's a damn good chance of losing your job if make too big a deal about things like Affleck grabbing a breast
If a man is powerful enough, job loss might even come if a man grabs em by the pussy -- ala TrumpleRacistSkin.
WHEN DOES A WOMAN'S POWER COME INTO PLAY?
When a radio personality reached up under Taylor Swift's skirt and grabbed her, she was so aware of men's power that she didn't react though cameras were on her. Only Swift's mother could tell that her daughter's face had changed.
Swift reported the incident. The harassment only became public when the man who assaulted her tried to sue her. The case went to court earlier this year.
photo in question is here:
Swift was undoubtedly a powerful woman a few years back when this happened. And yet she stood there and took it, during a photo shoot, pretending a man didn't have his hand on her bare ass up under her skirt
...in order to behave in a "professional" manner?
Think about how completely thorough rape culture and male supremacy is in this country. A woman is considered professional if she doesn't respond --immediately-- to a man putting his hand on her bare ass.
A lot of white women applauded Swift for going to court. "So brave" they said.
Me? I was pissed she didn't knock his teeth down his throat in the moment it happened.
Think about how rich Swift was a couple of years ago when this happened. Think about how famous she was and is. Do you know how much social power, how much social currency Swift should have had in that moment?
I know Swift's lack of immediate response has to do with the white culture and young white girls seeing themselves as princesses that must be protected by men.... then waiting around until one of them does it by the time they get to be women. That's why Swift's making a slight break with the white princess expectation garnered her some hero status
... for waiting for men of the courtroom to come to her defense
instead of
knocking that predator on his ass FIRST,
then going to a male dominated courtroom when summoned
by a predator looking for money
When Angelina Jolie said she had some sort of incident with Weinstein so she decided she'd never work with him again, I was wondering if she was saying she took the professionalism based high road that women are always steered toward.
Many years ago, when I was assaulted at my work place, my one and only focus was not letting the predator see he'd gotten under my skin. I indeed considered myself to be acting in a professional manner when I behaved like I was NOT scared and upset when I unofficially reported him. Let me point out, however, not only was I younger than Swift was at the time, I was working as a receptionist through a temp agency.
In other words, I had no where near the social power that Swift did.
However, I still understand that the most significant motivation behind Swift's lack of immediate reaction to being sexual assaulted. Stoicism in the face or sexual assault by a man is part of a woman's "professionalism"
And it always will be in a country where male supremacy is allowed to rule.
And it always will be in a country where male supremacy is allowed to rule.
MALE TO FEMALE POWER DIFFERENTIALS
AND SEXUAL BLACKMAIL
Of course, there are different levels of sexual harassment. Maybe grabbing the boob is a 3 out of 10.
But maybe Ben's brother Casey Affleck, who was accused of getting into bed with a woman he was working with is an 8 or a 9.
AND SEXUAL BLACKMAIL
Of course, there are different levels of sexual harassment. Maybe grabbing the boob is a 3 out of 10.
But maybe Ben's brother Casey Affleck, who was accused of getting into bed with a woman he was working with is an 8 or a 9.
In 2010, two women who had worked on Affleck’s experimental film I’m Still Here filed sexual harassment suits against him. One of the women claimed that Affleck crawled into bed with her without her consent while she was asleep. He allegedly pressured the other woman to stay in his hotel room and “violently grabbed [her] arm in an effort to intimidate her into staying” when she refused, according to the complaint.
The women claimed he verbally disparaged them and directed a subordinate to expose himself to one of them, among other types of misconduct. They also said that Affleck and the film's star, Joaquin Phoenix, locked themselves in the women's shared hotel room with two other women, allegedly to have sex with them. The full complaints are available here and here.
He was sued for 2 and 2.25 million each.
The claims were settled out of court.
Let's say, almost-rape is a 10 out of 10, with rape itself being on a completely different chart - a crime which Weinstein may also have committed (The accusation is out there/)
The important thing to keep in mind is that sexual harassers and sexual assault-ers all have one thing in common.
They are predators, the vast majority of them banking on the social power associated with being a heterosexual male to keep the women they assault silent -- whether the sexual harassment is at level 2, 5, or 10.
Sexual harassers and sexual assault-ers know they can damage or end the careers of the women they attack is part of being a predator. Knowing that other men will laughingly tell them to stop being a cad, at the very most - if they aren't simply silent, is part of being a successful sexual harassment predator too.
When men with the power of a Harvey Weinstein sexual harass women and get away with it, rape is an obvious next step.
What the Harvey Weinsteins of this world are able to say,
with winks and nods from their male peers is:
Say "no" to my sexual advances and I'll hurt your career
OR
I'll allow you to say "no" to my sexual advances,
but to it carefully or I'll hurt your career
but to it carefully or I'll hurt your career
It's not just ungentlemanly behavior
It's not natural for men to behave this way
It's not sexual addiction
Sexual Harassment is predatory behavior that's based on blackmail
Sexual Harassment is predatory behavior that's based on blackmail
Teach men not to prey on women
PART 2: SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND SEXUAL BLACKMAIL ARE TAUGHT
http://blackchickrocked.blogspot.com/2017/10/sexual-harassment-and-sexual-blackmail.html
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