A Turning Point in Gender Norms

Watching the Golden Globes this year, I could sense that the mood was different. It was more political, and many celebrities used it as an opportunity to bring attention to gender discrimination in the workforce. The open conversation about sexual assault and power dynamics that has been occurring in Hollywood is indicative of a larger shift in how sexual harassment victims are viewed. Now, women feel more comfortable sharing their stories, and real action is starting to be taken, as shown through campaigns like #MeToo and Time’s Up. However, there is still a lot more work that needs to be done to address the problem.

The Harvey Weinstein allegations and the expose published by the New York Times is what exposed, and brought attention to the problem of sexual harassment in the workplace, which has been occurring for decades. These allegations gave more women the confidence to publicly share their stories. Women involved in radio, gymnastics, TV, and politics started to talk about their own experiences, and men who abused their power were starting to feel retribution.

The fact that more women are speaking up has changed how victims are perceived. Rape culture will never be completely gone as long as we live in a patriarchal society, and it will take time to make a substantive shift in gender norms and the way that women are perceived. However, women have started to be taken more seriously when they speak up, and large companies have started to take some action, such as fire employees that have been accused of assault.

In response to this, some men have felt that women are on a witch hunt, and are not celebrating men who haven’t sexually harassed women. However, comments like these miss the point, and don’t understand the importance of sexual abuse, and the effect that it can have on women, both mentally and physically. Many men are not able to understand the full weight of these problems because they have never experienced it, but in order for there to be real change in the workforce, men have to stand in solidarity with women, and be open to listening to what they have to say. Wearing black, and a Time’s Up pin at an awards show is not enough to show that you support women, and their stories.

One thing that has not been as talked about is how to change the legal aspect. It is very difficult for rape victims to be successful in court because there is often little evidence, and even if there is evidence, the sentences given to abusers are often short, and don’t fit the crime. I hope to see movements, such as Times Up address this, and make an effort to change that aspect of sexual harassment as well.

Overall, the openness of victims indicates that change is being creating in our society. Even though the issues of gender violence can’t be solved over a short period of time, the recent action taken show that people are taking sexual harassment more seriously.