Hollywood Reporter: The problem is endemic below the line too, where women are working in crafts long dominated by men only to face abuse: "We don't have the power that Rose McGowan or Angelina Jolie has."
The accounts of Harvey Weinstein's predatory moves on A-list actresses have generated headlines. But for the growing number of women who work on film and TV shows in a so-called "below-the-line" capacity — on camera and sound crews, in editorial and music departments — such harassment is all too familiar and widespread. And little is being done to stop it.
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My team of lead builders for my last year my high school, with me as the head of the scene shop, was entirely female. The most common comments that piss me off to no end is those along the lines of, "Ooo girls with drills," or "Nice to see girls that know there way with tools," or "You all can't possibly lift that let me help". All spoken by members of guest groups, or woodshop students not in tech, or passing school staff members, all of which were male. Although these comments cannot by any means be equated to sexual harassment, this article reminded me of all those times where I felt like I was being demeaned for simply being a woman and doing what I love.
I have never been sexually harassed in any of the theatre spaces I have worked at, and for that I am grateful, though I sometimes fear that will not be the case forever. I applaud greatly with all my heart to Carrie Sheldon for stabbing that man with a fork because I am not sure I would have had the courage to do the same, harboring the same fear that I would somehow be blamed for the harassment like so many other women also feel.
I'm upset that so many of the article from the past week or so have been so centered on the topic of Weinstein and sexual harassment in the entertainment industry because it out somewhere where I thought would be a safe space for people to exist and be artist is truly no the case. I'm upset that the problem is so deep and so painfully relevant and people still pretend to be surprised by it because it's a "famous" person being charged. I'm upset that in a few more weeks that this issue will melt back into the shadows of headlines. I'm upset that women are afraid to stand up for themselves. I'm upset that the system still lets men get away with it. I'm upset and I don't know how it can be fixed unless we start talking about sexual harassment all the time, every time it happens.
We have been reading a lot of articles recently on sexual harassment and assault in the theater and film industry but I was curious why all the perspectives were from actresses. As a budding design and production major it is concerning to hear that this most likely will be what me and my female classmates will have to deal with and that there is nothing we can do to stop or report it. The arts have always been my comfort and my go to when I was stressed but for these hardworking women who want nothing but to be treated equal and create something inspiring and beautiful with their crew, art has become a burden that ties them to unwanted sexual advancements. It is a relief that their stories are finally being heard, even if the women don't feel safe admitting their names. I hope that change is on its way in a positive direction because of these stories that have started circulating the internet.
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