HARVEY WEINSTEIN FINALLY IN JAIL

Date posted: October 10, 2017

I recently finished a 10-week course on Women’s health and human rights taught by Anne Firth Murray of Stanford University. The former writer for the United Nations shed light on the unjust world and how women have been treated like a third-class citizen in this male-chauvinist society. 

And then Harvey Weinstein, the famous American film producer’s scandal was all over my Facebook wall to prove her right.

A man of power inviting women, like Ashley Judd and Emily Nestor, into his hotel suite in Beverly Hills to give him a massage and watch him while he takes a shower wearing nothing but water droplets. In return, he could help “push-up” their knockers as well as their careers.

Disgusting is the term my sister and I used while listening to Trumps’ “Grab ’em by the ____” comment on Fox News.

Hollywood, Bollywood or any other entertainment industry: sexual harassment is common, and people have let it sweep under the rug for decades. NOT ANYMORE. Weinstein’s great fall from power and grace represents a seismic change in attitudes toward sexual harassment in America, and it surely puts an end to the old boys’ club. 

Anne Firth Murray also shared statistics on how many women in refugee camps or war-torn countries were harassed and raped by an adult male, however, the number of sexually-harassed women in the “first world” is no less. Years pass by, and women have suppressed the indecent ordeals committed by their boss or colleagues. 

The following women have stepped forward to share their stories, and I applaud them for their courage.  You may click on their names to hear their stories unaltered. 

Angelina Jolie,     Gwyneth Paltrow,    Heather Graham,    Louisetts Geiss,      Lucia Evans,  Lauren Sivan,       Cara Delevingne,    Kate Becknisale,    Zoe Brock,               Louise Godbold,     Liza Campbell,     Romola Garai,      Lea Seydoux,        Claire Forlani,          Florence Darel,        Sophie Dix.

I hope that the story of these courageous women will encourage others to speak up when faced with having to deal with an influential person who abuses his/her power. 

It is my hope there are more consequences. It is my hope the statute hasn’t run on some [allegations] because this man deserves more than losing his company,” Joe Biden, former Vice president told a crowd at Rutgers University

“Silence,” he informed them, “is complicity. Silence is consent.”

The law takes to guarantee that all the culprits of sexual harassment will get more than just a “slap on the wrist.” Still, decades go by, and women let the nightmares committed by mere mortals haunt them. 

As a society, it should be our duty to empower women and give them a supportive shoulder when they share their ordeals. It is vital that women share their horrors with the world and empower others to do the same. 

If this is not done, society will always label women as the real perpetrators of sexual harassment. Donna Karen did just the same, she told a reporter “How do we present ourselves as women?”, “ Are we asking for it? By presenting all the sensuality and all the sexuality?”

It is much more complicated than that. As a society, we are brought up implying that sexual-harassment for benefits is acceptable and women need to act a certain way, walk a certain way, and dress a certain way. 

Bob Dylan in 1964 said it right, “The times They are a changin.”

People like Harvey Weinstein count on the fear to keep their victims from coming forward and telling somebody what happened. 

These revelations should strike fear in those who would take advantage of their power to exploit others. Ergo, thank god for Harvey Weinstein for letting us all come together and fight for the injustice happening in plain sight. 

And to all those “who-men©” who are suppressing their horrific stories should know this, safely coming out of a heinous act makes you more courageous and by sharing your stories you are placing rascals out of the civilized society where our daughters and/or sisters can live freely.

·     Who-men (noun) a term used asexually, representing both men and women as equal contributors. 

About the Author: Raman Solanki is a 22-year-old, global citizen, living in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He started volunteering for social causes  when he was 6 and hasn't stopped since. His written work principally focuses on bringing a better change in the society.