Harvey Weinstein. Roy Moore. Danny Masterson. Bill Cosby. Louis C.K. Al Franken. Kevin Spacey. George H.W. Bush. Ben Affleck. Matt Lauer. Donald Trump.
Everywhere one turns, a never-ending flood of sexual assault allegations keep bringing themselves to light. Entertainment and politics seem to be the most sexually polluted industries. One of the most arresting instances of recent sexual assault allegations was that of Harvey Weinstein. Weinstein was accused by actress Rose McGowan of promising to further her career in exchange for sexual favors. Countless other actresses have since come forward with their own stories of being sexually abused and raped by Weinstein.
Weinstein served as a catalyst for the onslaught of following sexual abuse allegations. If a man as powerful as Harvey Weinstein would be forced to pay for his actions and the victims would be believed, then surely other victims choosing to speak out about their own experiences would have similar results.
Like the entertainment industry, the political world has become largely infected with sexual misconduct. Most notably, President Donald J. Trump himself was caught on tape, claiming he could grab women wherever he pleased. Trump then endorsed Roy Moore for Senate, despite Moore’s allegations of sexually touching and pursuing teenage girls. Former Senator Al Franken was accused of inappropriately touching and kissing a plethora of women. Fortunately, Moore lost the election and Franken resigned from his position as Senator.
Why is it that entertainment and politics are the most sexually polluted industries? Ultimately, it comes down to power. Often, men are placed into positions of power over women, making more money than women, and holding higher professional positions than women. Women often become subordinate to the men in these industries that can further these women’s careers. This then permits space for sexual abuse and misconduct to flourish in professional settings.
While the infinite number of sexual assault and misconduct claims recently brought to surface is staggering to say the least, the number of claims is a mark of progress amid a dark world, as victims are beginning to speak out against their abusers with increasing frequency. While Weinstein’s condemnation brought countless other sexual assault allegations to light, sexual assault is not a new issue. Sexual harassment and rape have been taking place since the beginning of time, but the American society is no longer willing to accept sexual misconduct as a normal occurrence.
Moving forward, we need to continue to eradicate the rape culture of American society. We need to believe victims, and we must force sexual abusers to face the consequences of their actions. We must take the power from the abusers and give the power back to the victims and survivors of these crimes. We need to speak out and demand change. We must not allow this to continue.
If you are a survivor of sexual assault or rape in need of support, please call 1-800-621-HOPE (4673) or visit www.safehorizon.org
Rachael Bindas is a freelance writer and editor from Pittsburgh, PA. She focuses mainly on fiction, but still harbors a deep love for poetry. Her work has been featured in Moledro Magazine, Aeons, The Curious Element Magazine, and The Holiday Cafe.
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