MeToo movement
Social Change

07. #MeToo

Jul 14, 2024

It was extraordinary, even by Hollywood’s colossal standards. The downfall of one of Tinseltown’s most powerful figures was a confluence of raging sexual misconduct events unified by a revealing social media hashtag: #MeToo. This movement, which gained momentum in 2017, has since then significantly altered the power dynamics in the entertainment industry and corporate boardrooms, bringing to light the pervasive issue of sexual harassment and abuse.

It all began with an Oct. 5, 2017, article in The New York Times that detailed decades of allegations of sexual harassment against Hollywood movie mogul Harvey Weinstein.  The story was buttressed by the stunning admissions of actresses Rose McGowan and Ashley Judd, who bravely shared their experiences, inspiring many others to do the same. In less than three weeks, the Times’ exposé snowballed into an avalanche of allegations involving Weinstein from no less than 87 accusers. 

The takedown of a high-profile Hollywood studio boss emboldened many women to come forward with their own stories of sexual assault and abuse. On Oct. 29, 2018, The New York Times compiled a list of 201 men who were brought down by the #MeToo movement, a testament to its significant impact. This list included actors, entertainers, media personalities, and politicians, such as Jeffrey Tambor, Matt Lauer, Kevin Spacey, Louis C.K., Al Franken, Mark Halperin, Charlie Rose, and many others.

Prominent CEOs were not spared, either. Wynn Resorts Steve Wynn, Intel’s Brian Krzanich and CBS’ Les Moonves are just a few of the chief executives who left their companies after #MeToo revelations cast a pall on their once sterling reputations.

Counting business executives and employees, Time magazine arrived at a tally of 414 high-profile executives and employees who were outed by their accusers over an 18-month period.  Of the accused, all but seven were men or 98.3%.

The high ratio of men behaving badly explains why female politicians rarely get caught up in sex scandals. Unlike former South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford, no female politician has had an Argentine soul mate or has been caught by federal wiretaps arranging meetings with high-priced call girls, like Eliot Spitzer, or, as in the case of Anthony Weiner, shared lewd selfies on social media.

As Michigan Republican Representative Candice Miller told The New York Times during the Weiner scandal in 2011, “Every time one of these sex scandals goes, we look at each other, like, ‘What is it with these guys? Don’t they think they’re going to get caught?’” 

Ms. November 1977 coverThe term “sexual harassment” traces its origins to Cornell University in the mid-1970s, where journalist Lin Farley taught a course on women and work.  The November 1977 issue of Ms. featured a story entitled “Sexual Harassment On The Job And How To Stop It.”  Due to the topic’s sensitive nature, the cover illustration used a puppet.

It’s entirely conceivable that, as women gain power, more will follow in the footsteps of former Nashville Mayor Megan Barry, who illegally financed an affair with her chief of security detail through travel expense reimbursements. At the time, both were married to other people. 

During Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation hearings, one of his former Yale classmates, Synchrony Healthcare Communications CEO Lynne Brookes, a Republican, cited a powerful adage with a storied history: “People need to speak truth to power.”  This saying, with its urgent call to action, is said to have originated in a 1955 pamphlet, “Speak Truth to Power: A Quaker Search for an Alternative to Violence.” 

It could hold the key to a future marked by increased turbulence.

Michael Tchong

Michael Tchong

Founder, Author, Adjunct Professor, Futurist

Michael Tchong is a relentless explorer of the future, driven by an insatiable curiosity to unravel its mysteries.
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