Until we begin to hold people accountable for their sexual depravity and abuse of power, we must continue to hope the message of consent sinks in to their thick skulls.
We must somehow reiterate the fact that when it comes to sexual activity the word “no,” silence or passivity never equals “yes” and obtaining consent is always the best foreplay.
And no, consent that is given under duress or fear doesn’t count.
So sorry President Trump, Harvey Weinstein and every other powerful schmuck who thinks your authority gives you the right to prey on the vulnerable, it wasn’t consensual, you’re just a rapist.
From a young age, we are taught the words yes and no, and are lead to believe that they are absolutes.
Until it comes to sexual assault.
When the words are used in that sense, there appears to be a disconnect.
Somehow we have come to believe that these words may come with another meaning.
Words that have been embedded in our brain since childhood somehow come up for review.
Occasionally, this disconnect manifests itself in sinister ways like performing sex acts on an individual who has either openly said no to you, or is incapable of granting you consent or is without the power to turn you down.
At best, this disconnect is detestable. At worst it’s criminal, corrupt, and completely unforgivable.
In early October, multiple women came forward to accuse Harvey Weinstein, famed Hollywood producer, of sexual assault.
As the head honcho at one of the most successful movie companies in the world, Weinstein had the means to advance or ruin an actress’s entire career, so naturally he used that power to allegedly prey on vulnerable up and comers in Hollywood.
Weinstein appears to have followed the script as written by President of the United States and leader of the God Forsaken free world, Donald J. Trump.
“When you’re a star, they let you do it. You can do anything … Grab ’em by the pussy. You can do anything.”
It’s appalling, yet it’s running rampant in our modern-day society.
That said, neither Weinstein or Trump invented the concept of the Hollywood “casting couch” nor the corrupt sexual ethics of the movie business.
Trading sexual favors for sought-after parts is as old as the theater.
And for a long time, powerful people have thought they could get away with deplorable sexual depravity because, we let them.
Despite the sudden influx of victims feeling empowered to come forward and the resulting blowback on the alleged assaulters, sexual misconduct can’t be completely erased from Hollywood.
However, the recent disclosures of Weinstein’s revolting assaults on women blasted open the floodgates of similar accusations, and apologies from other high-powered males.
Since that time at least 20 other high-profile men in a variety of industries have also been raked over the coals for alleged sexual misconduct.
That’s indicative of a bigger problem.
If it were just Harvey Weinstein, Dustin Hoffman, Louis C.K. or Kevin Spacey, the problem would be the individual in question.
But it is not.
It is hundreds of people every day.
Some of those whose names we know and some whose names we are thankful we will never remember.
Maybe in light of Hollywood FINALLY calling people on their bullshit, things are changing.
But colour us skeptical to say the least.
