Time’s Up For Sexual Harassment

Over 300 prominent female figures have had enough of the power imbalance that women everywhere face, and have formed an initiative called Time’s Up to fight systemic sexual harassment in the workplace. The movement is discussed in detail in an article by the New York Times, the newspaper in which the original letter marking the start of this powerful movement was first published. The article details the purpose of the movement, the many women involved, the overall initiatives of the movement, and the efforts being put in place to help female victims of sexual harassment who are not in the entertainment industry. The article gives members of Time’s Up a significant platform to explain the need for this movement, and the work it has already begun helping victims of sexual harassment in the workplace. 

Time’s Up began in October after multiple female colleagues of the producer, Harvey Weinstein accused him of sexual misconduct. The reports were followed by an open letter sent in November on behalf of 700,000 female farmworkers, who said they stood with Hollywood actresses in their fight against abuse. Another letter was then published, marking the official start of the movement, as a full-page ad in the New York Times, sharing a powerful statement of solidarity with all victims of sexual harassment and discrimination: “To women in every industry who are subjected to indignities and offensive behaviour that they are expected to tolerate in order to make a living: We stand with you. We support you.” The letter answers the question of how women in Hollywood are responding to more and more allegations surrounding the sexist behaviour of powerful men, and the efforts being made to help women who don’t have the same privilege and power as those in the entertainment industry. 

Time’s Up, although headed by many recognisable and prominent women, such as Natalie Portman, Eva Longoria, and Reese Witherspoon to name a few, is a leaderless organisation, run by volunteers and made up of working groups which each focus on different and specific issues in an effort to end sexual harassment altogether. Shonda Rhimes, executive producer of well-known shows such as Grey’s Anatomy, and How to Get Away With Murder, admits “If this group of women can’t fight for other women who don’t have the same power and privilege, then who can?”. Time’s Up requested women to wear black at the Golden Globes this past weekend, in an effort to use the red carpet to speak out against gender and racial inequality. A legal defence fund has also been set up, with already over $13 million in donations, to help less privileged female workers protect themselves from sexual misconduct and the consequences they suffer from reporting it. Official legalisation to penalise companies that tolerate persistent harassment, and to stop the use of nondisclosure agreements to silence victims has already been approved. 

The original article in the New York Times admits that “no one can predict whether this burst of energy will lead to lasting changes” however, female workers in every industry are recognising that not taking action is no longer an option, and are “now locking arms in solidarity with each other, and in solidarity for every woman who doesn’t feel seen, to be finally heard.”

Works Cited

Buckley, Cara. “Powerful Hollywood Women Unveil Anti-Harassment Action Plan.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 1 Jan. 2018, www.nytimes.com/2018/01/01/movies/times-up-hollywood-women-sexual-harassment.html.

“Open Letter From Time's Up.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 1 Jan. 2018, www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/01/01/arts/02women-letter.html.