Variety: “Due to the heroic and brave work of many, we all now know there are serious problems of harassment, bias and mistreatment of others in Hollywood,” Hill said. “What we need to get our arms around, if we’re going to come up with effective solutions, is reliable data that reveals the specific nature and actual extent of those problems as well as the cultural environment that enables and hides them.”
5 comments:
For playground, I will be working on a piece that takes on the hearings of both Anita Hill and Dr. Christine Blasey Ford. This piece covers the experience of women when testifying against their abuser, and we have had long discussions regarding the ways in which to properly go about this piece honoring these women. This article proves that the equality in which Anita Hill (and Dr. Ford) fought, and still fight for, still has a long way to go. I am very impressed by the structure of this survey that is proposed to the entertainment industry in Hollywood. Hill cites that within this industry, sexism, and harassment still occurs, which more and more people are beginning to recognize due to movements such as #MeToo. I appreciate that Hill ensures that this survey is anonymous, and is working to advocate for women in all aspects of the entertainment industry. While we still have a long way to go before we reach total equality, but this survey proposed by Hill is a step in the right direction.
This is really something incredible. I think a lot of the time, we're all scrambling to "fix" things, but we feel like we just can't. But, when I saw this, I felt so relieved. It feels great to see someone in the public eye (albeit for the worst reasons) just say, "it's ok, I see you, and I'm going to help make it better." It makes me feel very hopeful that someone like Anita Hill can conduct this survey, because it means it will get results. And the fact that it's anonymous hopefully will allow women in the entertainment industry to feel comfortable sharing their stories. I honestly think this is what we've been missing, someone in the public eye being willing to actually do something. It may be naive, but I feel very hopeful about the prospect of this survey. I know that reasonable people already know sexual harassment, but I think that there are enough people who still deny it, which makes it really important to have concrete data on this issue. As someone who's working on a Playground piece revolving partially around Anita Hill's testimony, so the fact that she's still making such a huge impact makes it so much more important to me to work on this piece.
Similarly to Elena K and Elena D, I am working on a Playground piece (the same one) about the hearings of Anita Hill and Dr. Christine Ford. This article is really eye opening because it is a reminder that instances of sexual harassment and their consequences don't end when the hearing ends. The fact that Hill continues to fight for this issue is really amazing because of what she went through in the 90s. I agree with Elena D in feeling reassured in the fact that Hill is at the lead of this survey because she is a symbol of strength for victims of sexual harassment, and she has sympathy too. I also think that the fact that they are focusing on the entertainment industry is really important because of the public assumptions of how this community functions. I have so much respect for the aims and methodology of Hill's survey because she is really doing things in a way that gives people safety alongside a platform on which to discuss their experiences with sexual harassment. This is really inspiring, and though it might be a lot for Hill to start leading more of these in depth investigations right now, I think other people ought to start following in these footsteps.
I do not expect to be surprised by the survey results to be completely honest but at the same time I might be surprised by how rooted the problem is. I think the biggest problem in relation to the #MeToo movement is the fact that there has not been any concrete solution to this trend in the entertainment industry. I don't think there can be anything done to prevent disgusting perverted men and women from being what they are but I do believe there can be ramifications set in place to avoid them from happening. It is nice to see the industry take a stand against these issues. The only hope I have going forward is the rules and consequences are enforced and there is no unequal treatment of all offenders. I am also glad the survey offers anonymity as it prevents retaliation which is something the industry is known for.
I think that this is very noble undertaking, and I'm glad that Anita Hill has taken this immense task into her hands. I expect she will get a large number of survey responses, and most of them would make any one of us sick just reading them. This is a very timely topic, and one that has gained more and more traction and visibility since the beginning of the #MeToo movement. I'm also glad to see that on an individual level theatres and companies are making combating harassment and discrimination a focus in our industry. This week I attended the Event Safety Alliance's annual Summit, and I was surprised and pleased to attend one session that addressed how workplace harassment and misconduct is a safety issue and one that should be addressed like any other safety concern. Online trainings have been proven to be ineffective, so I think it is time for some more direct measures that employers can enforce. What I hope will be the ultimate outcome of this survey and its resulting initiatives is a change of company culture regarding these topics.
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