IN THIS ISSUE #Metoo: How a Hashtag Launched a Revolution Duration: 17:57

IN THIS ISSUE #MeToo: How a Hashtag Launched a Revolution Duration: 17:57

The #MeToo Campaign of 2017 could well be the most important movement of a generation.The hashtag took off in October and allowed victims of sexual harassment all over the world to unite on social media. It started with stunning revelations about film mogul Harvey Weinstein and grew into a global movement. The bravery of these women sharing their stories of assault and harassment brought about the fall of many powerful and influential men in the entertainment industry, politics and other businesses. And it launched a public CREDITS News in Review is produced by conversation about what is and what is not CBC NEWS and Curio.ca acceptable behaviour. GUIDE Writer: Jennifer Watt Related News in Review Stories Editor: Sean Dolan VIDEO  Sexual Assault: Isabelle Raycroft's Fight for Host: Michael Serapio Justice (Dec 2016) Senior producer: Jordanna Lake Packaging Producer: Marie-Hélène Savard  Sexual Harassment in the Workplace (Dec 2014) Associate Producer: Francine Laprotte  Frosh Week Controversy (Nov 2013) Supervising Manager: Laraine Bone

Other related Curio.ca content Visit our website at curio.ca/newsinreview, where you will find an archive of all previous News in Review seasons. As a companion  Boys Will Be Boys: Sexual Harassment in Schools resource, we recommend that students and  Campus Culture: Universities and the Issue of teachers access cbc.ca/news for additional Sexual Misconduct articles.  More Women Want to Join Lawsuit Against Closed Captioning RCMP News in Review programs are closed  UBC Launches Consent Campaign captioned for the hearing impaired, for English as a Second Language students, or for

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Video Review

Before Viewing

1. What do you know about the #MeToo campaign?

2. What impact has this campaign had on people’s awareness of sexual harassment and sexual assault in today’s society? Viewing

1. What accusations against a powerful man brought the social media and social justice campaign #MeToo to the forefront?

2. Tarana Burke is a social justice activist who After Viewing started the “Me Too” movement ten years before the social media phenomenon. What do you think would be important next  True  False steps for the #MeToo movement?

3. List two other powerful men accused of sexual harassment and/or sexual assault.

4. Women face double the number of sexual harassment that men experience in the workplace.  True  False

5. Name one powerful Canadian man accused of sexual harassment in the workplace.

6. What advice was Canadian actress Chantal Cousineau given by the woman at her union regarding director James Toback?

7. What reason was offered for high school boys not wanting to join in the media interview about sexual consent?

THE STORY

An enormous problem The social media campaign #MeToo has exposed the enormity of the problem of sexual harassment and sexual assault. It has also changed the way people view accusers and the accused in high profile cases. For years, if a woman accused a famous man of harassment, that man would simply have to say that she was a liar and the problem would go away. Lawyers for the sexual assault and harassment defendants would label accusing women as liars or gold diggers (or worse) and then both parties tended to mediate the case behind closed doors. Often the issue faded away with a payment and a non-disclosure agreement in which the affected women were told to maintain their silence for the rest of their lives.

Harvey Weinstein Then came the allegations against film executive Harvey Weinstein. A story in the New York Times detailed the accounts of several Hollywood actresses including Rose McGowan and Ashley Judd who had been sexually harassed and/or sexually assaulted by Weinstein. Weinstein’s lawyer issued a statement saying he was preparing to sue the Top to bottom: Toronto writer Anne T. Donahue; Los Angeles protesters with #metoo founder Tarana Burke newspaper for the report. At the same time, (centre); actress Meryl Streep. Weinstein admitted to “causing pain” but did not address any of the specific allegations. Brave women After thirteen more allegations against Many powerful women and men commended Weinstein came to light, the Hollywood the bravery of the women who came forward to producer fled the spotlight to seek therapy. In denounce Weinstein. More actresses, including the meantime, he was fired from his company Gwyneth Paltrow, Angelina Jolie and Lupita and his wife left him. Nyong’o shared similar experiences of sexual harassment by Weinstein. Some actresses

accused Weinstein of rape. The Los Angeles, To Consider New York and London police departments are all investigating claims against Weinstein. The 1. How has the “Weinstein effect” continued? Hollywood mogul has also been named in a $14 million lawsuit by a Toronto woman for two sexual 2. Why do you think most women remain silent assaults that occurred in Toronto in 2000. about their experiences of sexual harassment and/or sexual assault? Besides being fired from his own production company, Weinstein was suspended from the 3. How could men be allies for women who British Academy of Film and Television Arts, face harassment? expelled from the Academy of Motion Picture 4. Is sexual harassment different from flirting? Arts and Sciences and forced to resign from How so? the Directors Guild of America. Source: Harvey Weinstein timeline: how the scandal The Weinstein Effect unfolded. (December 20, 2017). BBC News. Retrieved from: bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-41594672 The wave of accusations against Weinstein caused a similar wave of allegations of sexual harassment and sexual assault across North America in what has come to be known as “the Weinstein effect.” Many powerful men in the news media, politics, sports and the entertainment industry have been accused of sexual misconduct — and a good number of those men have been fired from their jobs.

Dealing with sexual harassment The subsequent #MeToo campaign encouraged women and men who were not necessarily in the entertainment field to share their stories of sexual abuse in order to bring the perpetrators to justice and to build a bond between those who felt silenced and marginalized by their own experiences as victims. Research in Canada and the U.S. notes that people with disabilities, racialized women and women in non-traditional jobs are more likely to experience sexual harassment than other groups. How can we make workplaces, schools and our communities free from sexual harassment for all? It is our duty to find an answer to this question.

SEXUAL HARASSMENT: Know Your Rights

Phase 1 Scenario D A young transgender woman is asked by a Think about the following scenarios individually. classmate about her sexual preferences and After each scenario, indicate whether or not what her genitals look like. you think the scenario deals with a case of sexual harassment or not. After you have  Yes, this is sexual harassment made your decision, work with a partner to see  No, this is not sexual harassment if you have the same responses and discuss any differences and questions that you have. Scenario E Scenario A A “friend” will not take no for an answer when Young women walking down school hallways asking for “hugs” and gropes and touches your often hear catcalls, whistles, boos and body despite you saying not to. statements about their bodies.  Yes, this is sexual harassment  Yes, this is sexual harassment  No, this is not sexual harassment  No, this is not sexual harassment Scenario F Scenario B A couple likes to text each other explicit jokes, A school has four major sports teams. Only stories and photos. male athletes compete on these teams. There  Yes, this is sexual harassment is no corresponding program for female athletes.  No, this is not sexual harassment

 Yes, this is sexual harassment Based on this exercise, create a working definition of  No, this is not sexual harassment sexual harassment.  Scenario C Phase 2 A young woman receives texts from male “friends” asking for nude photos. They threaten According to the Ontario Human Rights Code*, to humiliate her with some information they sexual harassment is “engaging in a course of have about her if she doesn’t comply. vexatious comments or conduct that is known or ought to be known to be unwelcome.” In  Yes, this is sexual harassment some cases, one incident could be serious  No, this is not sexual harassment enough to be sexual harassment. Some examples of sexual harassment are:

 Asking for sex in exchange for a benefit or a formally complained. The school environment favour should be “poison-free” and respectful of  Repeatedly asking for dates, and not taking human rights. Schools are expected to “no” for an answer “monitor” themselves regularly to ensure that they are free of sexually harassing behaviours.  Demanding hugs  Making unnecessary physical contact, Reflection Questions including unwanted touching 1. How does your school ensure that people  Using rude or insulting language or making feel safe from sexual harassment? comments toward girls and women (or boys and men, depending on the circumstances) 2. How could they improve on educating  Calling people sex-specific derogatory people about sexual harassment and on names preventing it from happening?  Making sex-related comments about a person’s physical characteristics or actions The #MeToo movement morphed into the  Saying or doing something because you #TimesUp movement. This movement includes think a person does not conform to sex-role a $13 million defense fund to support lower‐ stereotypes income women seeking justice for sexual  Posting or sharing pornography, sexual harassment and assault in the workplace. It also pictures or cartoons, sexually explicit graffiti, called for women on the red carpet at the 75th Golden or other sexual images (including online) Globe Awards to wear black and to speak out about sexual harassment and assault.  Making sexual jokes  Bragging about sexual prowess  Bullying based on sex or gender  Spreading sexual rumours or gossip (including online)

*Source: Ontario Human Rights Code. Retrieved from: ohrc.on.ca/en/sexual-harassment-education-brochure

The Ontario Human Rights code and most provincial and territorial human rights codes prohibits sexual harassment in schools. Why do you think this is?

Schools and school boards have a legal duty to take steps to prevent and respond to sexual harassment. They must not ignore sexual harassment, whether or not someone has

Oprah Winfrey’s Golden Globe Award Speech

Read Oprah Winfrey’s acceptance speech of the Cecil B. DeMille Lifetime Achievement You can read Oprah’s entire speech here. Many people Award at the 2018 Golden Globe Awards. noted that Oprah’s speech felt like a campaign speech and speculation as to whether Oprah may consider running for Answer the following questions as you read President of the United States became widespread. cnn.com/2018/01/08/entertainment/oprah‐ 1. How is the theme of “speaking your truth” globes‐speech‐transcript/index.html developed throughout Oprah’s speech?  2. Why do you think Oprah chose Recy Taylor to highlight in her speech (versus other celebrities who have been part of the #MeToo campaign)?

3. What resonates with you personally in this speech? Why?

4. How do people, beliefs and institutions prevent the speaking of truth?

5. How can people and institutions support the speaking of truth?