Sexual Harassment in Hollywood

Sexual harassment is not about sexual attraction, it is about objectivisation of women.  This can be covert or overt, largely it is about male privilege and his inability to deal with his sexual insecurities.  What I’ve observed is there is no empathy for women. They are used for men’s pleasure. This doesn’t surprise me. I am watching a James Bond movie and I see the short skirts, the sexualisation of women, the inferiority of them in terms of characters that are significant. They are more window dressing to enhance his masculinity and sense of power. Always at the end he has sex. Must be virile ha ha.  He finishes with the line ‘I thought Christmas only comes once a year’.  You only need look at the prostitution advertisements all over the internet to view women as servicing me.  This sexualisation is deeply embedded in the media as it is what men think about and believe they need.  This has been a real impediment to women who want to be seen differently, as who they really are. 

In my case I knew when I was a secretary I was just window dressing, I had no value or status, I sensed that.  Just get the job done. I typed really hard to the point of RSI injury. I was watched and paid by the hour, I worked extremely hard.  I knew I wasn’t seen, I was a role.  I used to write poetry between typing letters to escape being an extension of a keyboard. I realised I was invisible and there was no career path.  I became frustrated towards the end and became snappy I was sick of the roles, poor pay and lack of satisfaction and fulfilment. I didn’t fit the stereotype and never have. Yet I had so much talent to offer. Thankfully I haven’t defined myself by society’s conventions and have walked an alternative path. Being a clown was a great way to not be a female. I never saw myself as a woman from within.  I have identified with love as a spiritual reality well beyond the physical body. I have come to learn more about chakras and sexuality and to what extent people are evolved. Those in the base chakra are governed by their base chakra (sexuality) and those who are spiritual and looking at their purpose and living a life of integrity are living in the crown, third eye or heart chakra. They are well rounded people who have a strong sense of who they and the journey. Those engaging in abuse are in the lower chakras of power, sexuality and survival. Humanity as a whole is living in this lower frequency.  

If men are emotionally disconnected sexual harassment will be their ‘normal’.  The advertising and movie industry has done a disservice to women.  They are historically depicted as weak, emotional, in need of saving, sexualised, slim, blonde and sweet doting on his every word.  Pretty but not to smart. I laugh.  I often thought women are not seen for who they are.  Of course other women see each other as we are not seeing an object but a potential friend.  Such is the reality of patriarchy. The gender bias is so deep that most don’t even notice.  These days female characters are increasingly becoming violent, another aspect I do not resonate with as they are being masculinised.  Can’t we just be who we are? Can we just go for jobs and be perceived on the basis of merit.  I guess the undermining of women has been in the psyche of humanity for thousands of years.  My hope is that this changes and women find their voices and are able to take back their power.

This story in Hollywood is not surprising. I recall hearing years ago that starlets had to do what these producers wanted in order to get a break. So hungry for success.  I recall when I was in Hollywood I watched this young 16 year old starlet talking to a woman and man from a studio. I thought how vulnerable she was.  She would say yes to whatever.  

It is good to see the sexual harassment issue rising up across the world. It is time for women to break their silence. It is important for girls. Sexual harassment is horrendous and very painful.  What I learned from it was to find my power and know my value was more than an object.

I would like to know if anyone noticed the comment Trump made that he had known him a long time and wasn’t surprised.  I would say that he knew what he did. That seems obvious.  But like other men he does nothing. As the world is aware, he has done it himself. Where are the real role models for men that express respect, dignity and empathy for others.  They are the ones I see as the true masculine.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-10-13/harvey-weinstein-emma-thompson-says-sexual-harassment-endemic/9046144

Harvey Weinstein: Emma Thompson says sexual harassment and bullying ‘endemic’ in Hollywood

Updated

Media player: “Space” to play, “M” to mute, “left” and “right” to seek.

Sexual harassment and bullying is rife in Hollywood and allegations of assault against disgraced movie producer Harvey Weinstein are just the tip of the iceberg, Oscar-winning actress Emma Thompson has said.

The Sense and Sensibility star said she was not aware of allegations against Weinstein before The New York Times revealed settlements had been made with several women who had complained about being assaulted or harassed by the media mogul.

“I didn’t know about these things, but they don’t surprise me at all, and they’re endemic to the system anyway,” Thompson told the BBC.

“What I find sort of extraordinary is that this man is at the top of a very particular iceberg, you know, he’s … I don’t think you can describe him as a sex addict — he’s a predator.

“What he’s, as it were, at the top of the ladder of is a system of harassment, and belittling, and bullying, and interference.”

 

Thompson said there were “many” sexual predators in the entertainment industry.

“Maybe not to that degree,” she said.

“Do they have to all be as bad as him to make it count?

“Does it only count if you really have done it to loads and loads and loads of woman?

“Or does it count if you do it to one woman once? I think the latter.”

The British actress’s comments came as The Guardian reported that London police had received an allegation of sexual assault against Weinstein and Kate Beckinsale joined other high-profile film stars and models in accusing the 65-year-old of inappropriate behaviour.

Weinstein has denied any non-consensual sexual conduct with any women.

‘This has been part of our world’

 

She said it was a symptom of the “crisis of extreme masculinity” in wider society.

“‘Is he pestering you?’ That’s the word we used to use in the olden days, if you recall,” she said.

“This has been part of our world, women’s world, since time immemorial.

“So what we need to start talking about is the crisis in masculinity, the crisis of extreme masculinity, which is this sort of behaviour, and the fact that it is not only OK.’

She added that it was an attitude “represented by the most powerful man in the world at the moment”.

 

The last remark appeared to reference US President Donald Trump, who has faced sexual harassment allegations and bragged about using his notoriety to get away with “grabbing” women.

Last weekend Mr Trump said he had known Weinstein for “a long time” and was “not at all surprised to see” the allegations made against him.

Mohandas Gandhi

“The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.”

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