Sexual misconduct in Hollywood: are we part of the problem?

It has been widespread headline news over the past year. Powerful famous figures accused of sexual misconduct in Hollywood and the media. The stories mainly focus on men who have allegedly abused or harassed people in lower positions of power. As the list continues to grow every day with no end in sight, the question remains, why has this been allowed for so long? When will Hollywood be held accountable and held accountable for the behavior of its employees and partners during decades of systematic culture of sexual misconduct and sexual crimes that were allowed to occur in the entertainment industry without recourse?

The accusations against some of these male artists do not refer to things that happened in private; they are about things that supposedly happened in public, in front of witnesses and, in some cases, even in front of the cameras. These men were able to behave in a way in which none of them feared there would be consequences or repercussions for their behavior. The only way this could be possible is that sex is deeply ingrained in Hollywood workplace culture. As one Hollywood screenwriter put it: “Everybody knew it, but we were too busy having a good time!” This admission is an honest look at what was happening, but it is a horrible excuse where the end does not justify the means. I can’t go out with a friend and they kill someone and I watch how it happens and I don’t say anything without being accused of complicity. So why can Hollywood do it with sex crimes? It’s just one of many things that makes you question the very foundation on which an industry like Hollywood is built and whether it has been safe all these years.

Many people credit the #MeToo campaign movement with raising awareness and a call to action for the rape, sexual misconduct and harassment that has existed in the entertainment industry for years and years. However, #MeToo only seems to target the entertainment industry and it skipped the possibility of bringing a call to action to sexual misconduct that occurs widely in other industries. I know because I have checked. The #MeToo movement has not touched the sex trafficking industry. There should be a lot more to aspire to if you want your message to be effective. But, so far, what we are seeing is a group of famous men losing their careers. This is not bad, but it does not quite solve the problem. Which could only make one wonder if this is really a call to action or is it a virtual signal that is deeply ingrained in capitalism, where the power structure is trying to reassert itself in its search for sixteen powers from the traditional holders. of power in this country. Many of the defendants have pending complaints that remain unfounded but have already been demonized courtesy of the media without probable cause or real evidence. In some cases there is direct sexual assault. But, there are some allegations with descriptions of a bad date between two people who wanted very different things and some others where a lot of excessive flirting led a conversation in an awkward direction.

While many accusations have struck the nerves of some who follow the stories, they also confuse others who see some of the encounters as an outreach. The general consensus points to how deep our sexual problems are and how we need to create norms that work for everyone.

In my opinion, #MeToo hasn’t done a great job driving reform talks, and neither has the same outlets that have been investigating many alleged claims. In fact, it’s safe to say that they have both become a poorly managed police department. While he exists for a noble cause, he has ended up abusing his power for the wrong reasons by persecuting an entire community: demonizing famous men. specifically. This is because entering the most famous vocal front men in the social movement never posed a real goal. There was no legitimate investigative process, no standards, and no real oversight. Because of this, just like with the cops, people have gotten upset with them and it has made it very difficult for anyone to trust them. This will soon make their agenda meaningless, as we have seen in the past with other movements for social change, such as Occupy Wall Street. Do you remember them? It is not about protecting the men (and women who have fallen asleep to the beds of their male students) from the stark truth about their behavior, but about genuinely trying to figure out what is the best solution to the problem we are trying to solve. sort out. If we really want to end sexual misconduct in Hollywood or in any workplace or community, we must begin with the dismantling and complete restructuring of the environment where this type of sexual culture is allowed to flourish. Deviant sexual behavior and misbehavior will not stop until there is real politics and it is no longer a culture.

Right now, our social climate carries an attitude that is somewhere between two extremes; one in which we poke fun at sexual misconduct and harassment out of one side of our mouth while improvising our favorite trap songs reciting derogatory and misogynistic sexual lyrics towards women on the other side, as well as celebrating movies like Call me by your name. This film was nominated for an Academy Award this year. The story centers on a grown man who has an affair with an underage teenager. If we want real reform, there should be no exceptions to the rule.