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Often mingled, if not utterly lost, to the cover of sexual harassment and misconduct, the role of the spectators is to allow the perpetrators to retain their power.
As the illustrious John Oliver in the Sunday Week episode interviews his Anita Hill, what they do or do not do things.
Hill, currently Professor of Social Policy, Law and Women's Studies at Brandeis University, wrote his testimony in 1991 stating that Clarence Thomas had sexually harassed her when she was her Counsel-counsel while he was deputy secretary of the Civil Rights Bureau of the US Department of Education
Hill was facing the vexing opposition of lawmakers who were questioning his credibility, his reputation and his intention. presenting his charges. But while Thomas was confirmed as a Supreme Court justice, Hill's courage nonetheless prompted Congress to pass legislation allowing victims of harassment to seek damages, wage arrears and reinstatement. However, as Oliver has shown in the preface to his conversation with the professor, we are still in the same discussions about whether a woman's sexual harassment allegations are substantiated if they were not not officially reported. channels, and whether the reporting of such harassment really does justice to the victims.
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As Oliver points out, citing the evidence that large Companies like Ford have had to pay multimillion dollar settlements and promise to change their corporate culture, a large number of women show up for the position, Time's Up was celebrated during the telecast of Oscars in 2018.
"Now, sadly, all I've just described also describes the 1990s when powerful companies like Ford paid several million dollars and promised to change their culture and a wave of women will come to the power in 1992, "he said, who was also nicknamed" The Year of the Woman "and celebrated at the Oscars of 1993.
of a ridiculous singing and dancing number conducted by Liza Minnelli, including by Depressing oles assuring us that "Hillary will lead the way!"
Oliver could only sum this up by saying, "Ouch, the only way to do that is to know if after singing" Hillary will pave the way "Donald Trump came on stage, fumbled the backup dancers, and won the best film despite the popular vote. "
Last week's reports on allegations of sexual misconduct against CBS Corporation's CEO, The Moonves, provide evidence even more conclusive of the lack of progress made on sexual harassment in the workplace. A detailed report in The New Yorker was this important observation from a producer who did not wish to be identified:
"People say," You can call HR "Honestly, I do not want to be identified: I have never met a single HR person, "a producer told me. "There is no forgetting". Some said they witnessed reprisals against those who tried to express themselves. At CBS News, "there was no one to turn to," said a former producer, saying that she had reported the behavior of Charlie Rose, and that the complaint did not make any sense. had no repercussions on Rose. "If it's just a behavior from above, tolerated at the top, and there's no one to talk to, what are you doing?", She said [19659012] adding that Moonves helped found the Commission for the elimination of sexual harassment. and promoting equality at work, of which Hill is the president
. The episodes of "Last Week Tonight" are recorded on Sunday, the day of its broadcast. It is unclear whether Oliver 's conversation with Hill took place before or after the New Yorker story became public. (Salon reached out to HBO, but one representative did not have this information at the time of publication.)
Granted, in Oliver's interview, Hill concedes that we did progress towards the front. "There has been a tremendous change in public attitudes and there has been a shift in the information we have on sexual harassment," she told Oliver. "Until a few years ago, people were ambivalent about the consequences of incredibly bad behavior in the workplace."
An interesting evolution of the current conversation, however, is the fear that men would have in the workplace. With respect to women, this manifests itself in the form of sharing space or having conversations. Oliver played a number of clips featuring anxious men, including inspirational guru Tony Robbins sharing an unfounded story about a leader passing on a qualified woman who was up for a job in favor of a candidate male. His excuse? Apparently, he was afraid of being harassed at his workplace because she was attractive, and the man did not want to assume such a risk.
Hill Defty addressed this error, pointing out that the prevention of harassment should not be a female problem. 19659003] And when Oliver asked her if the men were to be afraid, she replied, "Not if it's not a stalker, if you're a stalker, then you should be terrified." It's common sense.
These observations were not as extraordinary as a point in the interview when Oliver, with Hill 's help, engaged in a moment of self – reflection.
asking what should be the role of men. In this movement, Hill simply responds, "You need us, we need you to rise, and you realize that there are no innocent bystanders."
As for men who close their eyes, she says, "If you are aware of something, you recognize it, you know it's wrong, but you do not do anything about it, so it's as if you are participating. "
Oliver admits then: "I am now thinking about myself in the workplace over the years and I can not honestly say that I've always talked if I saw any frightening behavior, especially when I'm 39 was younger and I felt that I was on the lower part of the power dynamics and did not feel I necessarily able to speak and say that it's wrong, "says he, admitting that it's a pretty poor excuse. "I feel myself looking back?"
Hill replies calmly: "Slightly shameful, it's a good start." She points out that what viewers would do well to embrace now, is empathy, not just the shame of not knowing how to react.
She then asks Oliver what to do. he would now make sure he saw ongoing misconduct. "I think, probably, just to say," It was a pretty scary thing to do . & # 39; "It's a very nice thing to do," Hill responds, "but could you also tell the person who is under the weight, you know," How are you? " ? How does it seem to you? Would you like me to say something?
Oliver seems even more shameful. "Yeah, it's pretty sad that it's not an instinctive reaction, is it?"
"There are more sad reactions," Hill says.
Oliver's confusion is an important example to see for men. His willingness to admit that he does not know naturally what to say and how to help demonstrates how many well-intentioned men seem to feel confused and even helpless right now.
And on what points do powers count? The inability of the average guy to dive into this discomfort and to do more than just stay by his side, fearing what could happen if he gets up.
This fact is one of the many reasons why what happens in the Moonves case of #MeToo's limitations.
Moonves may not be a household name, but the network he represents, CBS, is the most-watched television network in the United States. C & # 39; is a publicly traded company whose independent directors review the matter and assures the public, through a statement released last week to the press, that "the board will promptly review the findings and take appropriate action."
announced that his board of directors is in the process of selecting an outside lawyer to conduct an independent investigation into allegations related to Moonves. The board also elected to postpone the company's 2018 annual meeting of shareholders, which was scheduled to take place on August 10
"The board of directors will determine a new date of Closing for 2018 Annual Meeting of Shareholders "The statement reads as follows:
The shares of the company plunged shortly after Farrow's exposure was broken, suffering its worst loss One day in almost seven years, it is clear that the way CBS treats these claims matters to more people than its employees.
However, Moonves is also a very rich and powerful man, not only in the field of media but in the country.According to Equilar's data firm, he was the fourth CEO of a large public company in 2017, with a total of $ 68.4 million. [19659003] It shaped the success of CBS programming in 19 98 in his early days President and Chief Executive Officer of CBS Television. (He was promoted to President and CEO in 2003.)
He has also shaped many careers, elevating a number of executives, actors and personalities to prominent positions, including the facilitator and producer Julie Chen. Chen and Moonves have been married since 2004, and they started dating together while he was still married to the former Mrs. Moonves.
It also means that in the structure of the CBS there are a number of spectators who have been able to observe Oliver. scary behavior and not knowing what to do.
When this story comes out, Moonves may very well keep his job, perhaps after a vacation and reports of rehabilitation and soul searching. The company's final decision as to what to do with Moonves will likely depend on the fact that the independent directors of CBS believe that stability is more important to the end result than to publicly demonstrate the company's commitment to the safety and moral integrity of his workplace. resists in all workplaces of the nation. There are no more innocent bystanders. And if a clumsy talk show host can commit to stepping up, there 's no more excuses for someone else to remain silent.
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