Salma Hayek's piece on Harvey Weinstein is a very thought-provoking article that makes one really look inwards about who we really interact with in society. Hayek describes the way she seems to have repressed many details of the abuse she's encountered at Weinstein's hands, while narrating her experience to others, and how now, at the height of the Me Too movement, she feels at ease: no longer reeling under the shame she once felt when she buried all of those emotions.
What this tells us, especially in the context of the movement and the narrative that a woman is scrupulous and intent on ruining the character of a man by making allegations against him, much after the alleged assault, is that women feel ruined, ashamed, and vulnerable. Their rights, liberty and dignity are stripped away, being made to feel like a man's puppet made to dance to his tune.Many we interact with believe that the MeToo is just a smear campaign being conducted. It is at such junctures, that we must remember why they choose to remain silent, and why they choose to come out with the stories of their assault. It is not out of some ulterior motive they have, to smear the reputation of others, but a statement that they have been wronged, and that by remaining silent, the accused would not be held accountable and would likely continue to behave in this manner.
It also tells us about how we tend to glorify abusers. Weinstein seemed to be just another famous film producer, who's fame and connections seemed to draw Salma towards his company in an attempt to advance her career. However, we begin to see how the layers to Weinstein's true character begin to slowly peel away. We seem to glorify horrible people, and because of such glorification and conditioning believe that they can do no wrong. It is imperative, now more than ever, that we begin to believe women, and look at the people around us, people who we believe can do no wrong, little differently.
What this tells us, especially in the context of the movement and the narrative that a woman is scrupulous and intent on ruining the character of a man by making allegations against him, much after the alleged assault, is that women feel ruined, ashamed, and vulnerable. Their rights, liberty and dignity are stripped away, being made to feel like a man's puppet made to dance to his tune.Many we interact with believe that the MeToo is just a smear campaign being conducted. It is at such junctures, that we must remember why they choose to remain silent, and why they choose to come out with the stories of their assault. It is not out of some ulterior motive they have, to smear the reputation of others, but a statement that they have been wronged, and that by remaining silent, the accused would not be held accountable and would likely continue to behave in this manner.
It also tells us about how we tend to glorify abusers. Weinstein seemed to be just another famous film producer, who's fame and connections seemed to draw Salma towards his company in an attempt to advance her career. However, we begin to see how the layers to Weinstein's true character begin to slowly peel away. We seem to glorify horrible people, and because of such glorification and conditioning believe that they can do no wrong. It is imperative, now more than ever, that we begin to believe women, and look at the people around us, people who we believe can do no wrong, little differently.
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