So, Harvey Weinstein has been brought up short about his long history of sexual aggression with women that fell under his purview. The old “ casting couch” stories that have been pervasive for years have a face. As the legions of women speak out, he humbly asks forgiveness for being an old dinosaurs operating under the “ old rules” and being a man of the 60’s. And off he scurries to “rehab” to get better. Old rules? Rehab? For using his power to come at women sexually? It’s not an addiction, Cupcake. It is being a predator. (I was thrilled to hear Emma Thompson say it after I thought it)
Years and years of men saying “ you’ll never work in this town again” to get what they wanted from woman, or doing their best to blackball them if they didn’t get what they were after.
I am lucky that I have had no more than the inappropriate flirtation come my way from male superiors, and well back in my early career. But I do recall the skepticism I received when I once reported a phone call late at at night on an out of town training trip from a male supervisor.(This is at least 25 years ago, at a bank that I don’t think even exists anymore) He called me at 1:30am to ask me how I was enjoying the training, and what I thought of it. He didn’t propose anything, but he sounded drunk and who calls at 1:30 to ask your thoughts? I told him I needed to get to bed and we hung up. He called me later in the morning to profusely apologize for calling at such an inappropriate hour and that he hadn’t realized how late it was when he called and looked for my ressurance that I wasn’t upset. I later mentioned it to a female ops manager and our male manager at the time. They both looked at me with an arched eyebrow, and asked “ why would he do that, and why are you telling me this .” I told them I didn’t know what he wanted, and I was telling them because it made me uncomfortable and that I thought someone besides me should know. They dropped the matter like hot potato, and looked at me sidelong thereafter, as if I had hoped to gain some political capital from the story.
I left that bank for other career reasons soon thereafter, but that acting male manager nodded when I told him and said “ it’s for the best.” I couldn’t help but feel that he was happy to see the back of me. I later found out that the (married) male supervisor who had called me that night had been involved in a long term affair with another woman in the Bank , who had once worked directly under him. It came to light when he died suddenly of a heart attack , and she, upon hearing of it, collapsed in a sobbing hysterical heap, and had to be driven home. As I heard it told, it was an “ open” secret. Yet my story of a late night call was met with suspicion as to my motive.
I hope we get to a point where women do not have to fear rejection, ridicule or suspicion or accusations of hidden agenda when they tell their stories.
The accusers of Bills Cosby and O Reilly are labeled attention seekers and as looking for a big payday and for their 15 minutes of fame. This country elected a man who spoke of forcing his attentions on young woman due to his power, who continues to dismiss the recorded conversation as “locker room talk,” as if that makes it better. To boast of the power to do such a thing speaks of the character of a man.
Harvey used his power with impunity for decades, and has finally come to grief. We can only hope that the balance of power is tilting the other way.
