I’ve never been sexually harassed. But once decades ago, when I was interviewing for a job, I walked out on the interview when I was asked an illegal, inappropriate question on my birth control method. I just said “I’m sure I wouldn’t like working here” and I walked out. Calmly.
I wasn’t a starving artist. I had lots of other interviews but it was a high-paying job at a good firm.
But did you report it? Go public? Make sure that the same thing didn’t happen to other women? Because right now, many women are being castigated for not speaking up.
Just a guess, but TatinG probably wasnt a famous multimillionaire at the job interview ,or since. Yes, those wuth sufficient resources to stand up to this nonsense should do so, whether male or female.
So someone rich and powerful hears something or is told something second hand and they are supposed to run to the authorities and report it? Or to the Academy? Or to whom exactly?
And you can bet that HW would have unleashed his lawyers and they would have attacked like a pack of hungry dobermans. Then someone from some DA’s office would show up and quickly declare that there is insufficient evidence to proceed with charges and the person who reported it would be looking at some sort of defamation suit from HW et al.
It’s very easy to sit in an arm chair and opine on what other people should have done when you have nothing to lose yourself.
Yes…and remember absent force or all out physical assault, these things happened before “I didn’t really want to do this” was an acceptable response to the situations these women were in. The guy’s a predator…a low life…pond scum…but like Cosby it’s going to be hard as heck to prosecute and yes, he would have, and may still, come back and say “heh, none of them had to do what I asked them to do” sad as it is.
oh please. the exclusive parties, the galas, the awards, the fawning over HW-really was it all advisable when his activities were apparently so well-known? One can choose with whom to associate socially, and with whom to conduct business. It certainly looks like most in Hollywood condoned his behavior.
Oh. So some people are supposed to do the right thing, throwing away all their dreams, based on arbitrary judgements by people who haven’t had to face those same decisions themselves but others get a free pass on doing the right thing?
If it is anyone’s dream to associate with HW and those of his ilk, be my guest.
Associating with him may not be the dream, but may be a necessary evil for some to continue seeking their career dreams without being sabotaged by him. Not a good situation to be in, and not unique to him, the entertainment industry, or sexual misconduct (as opposed to other misconduct).
@roycroftmom why would you advise women to steer clear of the awards, exclusive parties and the galas or any other event that HW might attend? They are basically Hollywood’s equivalent of the professional conferences and other events that business people attend in the corporate world. They are important networking events to attend – especially so in Hollywood where everything appears in the press the next day.
Why should one man prevent women from attending these events like everyone else??? Think through what you are advocating – women should just fold their tents and stay away. That solves absolutely nothing and he wins. I don’t think too many of us are going for that option.
I never thought women should keep away from these events. I think the hosts, who were both men and women, should have chosen not to invite HW.
Oh Ok - I thought your #525 was saying women should avoid those events and choose not to associate with him.
I give you Anita Hill.
Her abuser still sits on the Supreme Court.
Oh, and as regards law firm interviews, my niece just went through the interviewing process at NYU law school for post-second year summer associates. The initial round of interviews were virtually ALL held in hotel suites. Firms from all over, including abroad, come to town and take a suite (or room) at a mid-town hotel, at which they can interview dozens of candidates from several schools.
And let’s be realistic about what being blacklisted by HW would mean to an ARTIST. Look at the list of movies produced or dsitributed by Miramax, for example. Honestly, take the time to read through it. It’s incredible. They made incredibly good movies. If you are the type of movie viewer who likes action and comic book franchises, maybe you won’t get my point. If not…
The majority partner at the company I work for is mercurial. He is known for his impulsive out-sized generosity, as well as for having a fierce, bullying abusive temper.
I don’t work with him directly, thank goodness, I’m a nobody to him, but my managers are afraid of him. They do a LOT of butt kissing, and smiling, and rah-rah go company. They want to be showered with his generosity and also want to avoid his wrath (and keep their jobs!).
Their management jobs pay their bills, support their families, send their kids to college… If this partner were abusing employees sexually (I’m not aware that this is happening, just using it as a mental exercise), in addition to his verbal abuse, what would you expect people to DO? Go to HR? What HR? Get another job? As if that is so easy (not).
I have loads of sympathy for how difficult these situations are in real life.
I never doubted HW has ability as a director. Nor Roman Polanski, for that matter, both before and after he raped a child. I do realize socially shunning HW has costs for those who are vulnerable, hence my focus on the wealthy and established actors, who could have easily borne those costs, but chose not to.
All men who sexually harass women (or men) should be social pariahs, shunned. I think this is something we can all agree on.
HW is not a director. If he were ONLY a director, he would have wad far less influence on the industry.
And if you think that movies abound with good roles–or for that matter, almost ANY roles–for women over 40, those supposedly “rich and famous” ones you keep blaming for not throwing themselves on the pyre, you haven’t been paying attention.
That applies to just about most things in life. If we remove that ability there would be no editorial pages. Or CC threads where we express our personal moral superiority on subjects and situations which do not affect us.
If you had experienced HW behavior, would you have told others in your circle/profession? Would you have warned them?
If HW had been beating his wife or abusing his kids would those who knew have had a moral (and that is different than legal) obligation to bring it to light? And no, that is not a straw man argument. Do we have an obligation to others to warn them of a dangerous environment?
Cory Feldman tried to speak of pedophilia in Hollywood. Barbara Walters just shut him down - hey, don’t condemn an industry.
Grrrrrrr…
And her situation shows the sad example of what a woman will put up with in order to enhance her career.