Hollywood Women Launch Time's Up Campaign To Combat Sexual Harassment

A group of women from the most powerful industry in Hollywood has joined forces. Launching an initiative aimed at combating sexual harassment inside and outside of their industry. A great swirl of accusations set in motion by the scandal of the acclaimed producer Harvey Weinstein.

Time’s Up for sexual harassment

In an open letter published in the New York Times last Monday, 300 actresses, agents, writers, directors, producers and entertainment executives announced the campaign. It goes by the name Time’s Up. Some of the most acclaimed women in Hollywood signed. It includes the names presences like Reese Witherspoon, Natalie Portman, Kerry Washington, Rashida Jones and Ashely Judd.
“We stand with you: To every woman employed in agriculture who has had to fend off unwanted sexual advances from her boss. Every housekeeper who has tried to escape an assaultive guest. Every janitor trapped nightly in a building with a predatory supervisor. Each waitress grabbed by a customer and expected to take it with a sile. Every garment and factory worker forced to trade sexual acts for more shifts. Each domestic worker or home health aide forcibly touched by a client. Every immigrant woman silenced by the threat of her undocumented status being reported in retaliation for speaking up. To women in every industry who are subjected to indignities and offensive behavior that they are expected to tolerate. All in order to make a living: We stand with you. We support you.”

No doubt it is an inspirational message for any woman. Especially, to those who are going through one of these cases. To take precaution and not let the harassment win. A good campaign proposal from these great women in the industry.

“The struggle for women to break in. To rise up the ranks and to simply be heard and acknowledge in male-dominated workplaces must end. Time is up on this impenetrable monopoly,” says part of the letter published in the New York Times.

Initiatives for Time’s Up

A $13 million legal defense fund to help women in blue-collar jobs and farm work

Drafting of legislation to punish companies that tolerate sexual harassment and to discourage nondisclosure agreements in such cases.

A push to reach gender parity in Hollywood studios and talent agencies; and a call for women walking the red carpet at the Golden Globes to wear black as a sign of protest and solidarity.

Girl power

Shonda Rhimes, executive producer of television shows such as Grey’s Anatomy and Scandal, was quoted in the Times as saying: “It’s very hard for us to speak righteously about the rest of anything if we have not cleaned our own house.”

Actress Reese Witherspoon said that women in the past “separated from each other.”

“We’re finally hearing each other, and seeing each other. Locking the arms in solidarity with each other. In solidarity with every woman who does not feel seen, to be finally heard,” she said, according to the Times.

Since October, that the Harvey Weinstein scandal came to light because of his sexual misconduct. Many men in leading industries have been forced to resign on charges of sexual harassment. This initiative gives a sigh of hope to women who have gone through this and did not have the opportunity to be heard in the past. Giving them prominence now, leaving behind the macho patriarchy. Let the female voice be heard in every corner of the world.