By Theresa Maher
WASHINGTON, D.C.–Powerful female icons who have been silent for years began to speak out.
Women at American University’s School of Communications were not shocked by what they heard, but by the mere fact that female professionals were saying it.
“I think my biggest thing is, what has changed so that there is this outcry now? I guess we’re moving in the right direction simply because these women feel they can come out,” said Meredith Bartley, a junior in film and media arts at AU.
Female film students and faculty at AU reacted with mixed feelings toward the news of sexual assault allegations against a famous Hollywood producer this Fall.
Previously undisclosed allegations of sexual assault against Harvey Weinstein, former co-chair of the Weinstein Company, have spanned nearly 30 years, according to an investigation by the New York Times. The Times released an article cataloguing the allegations against Weinstein on Oct. 5.
Female film students and faculty at AU are considering what this means for their career paths and curricula.
Allison Kraus, a junior in film and media arts at the University, was upset, but not surprised.
“There’s a part of me that was very much like, ‘Oh no, I respected this production company, they made so many films I really like,’ but, oh, I guess this is something that is sort of left up to chance with like, big producers who are in power,” Kraus said.
Kraus explained that she was aware of sexual assault and harassment being a part of Hollywood, but it was not something she gave a lot of thought to.
“I guess knowing that those were the kind of steps I had to take to get there, whether it was encountering predatory people in the business, then that didn’t deter me but it made me more cautious and more sad that this was something that I would have to be wary of if I ever did encounter it,” Kraus said.
Katie O’Gorman, a senior in film and media arts, was surprised that people were talking about cases in which female actresses were targeted by powerful male producers.
“In a way, I think it’s a shame that we have become so used to hearing stories like this. I am glad, though, that this is becoming something we are now finally talking about and addressing,” O’Gorman said.
Gemma Puglisi, an assistant professor at AU, talked about how the students in her entertainment class reacted.
“What I thought was really interesting is, the students, when we were talking about it, were saying, ‘Professor, it’s not just this industry, it’s everywhere.’ And you know what? They’re right,” Puglisi said.
Surveys indicate that at least one-fourth of all women have experienced workplace sexual harassment. However, 70 to 90 percent of people who experience workplace sexual harassment do not make a complaint to their employers or file a charge with fair employment agencies, according to a 2016 report by the National Women’s Law Center.
Hollywood, at its core, is just that–a workplace.
“I mean, these are issues in all walks of life, and every job, everybody,” Puglisi said.
Despite the volume and timespan of sexual assault allegations against Weinstein, the women of American University’s film programs remain hopeful.
Kraus says that she has not lost hope for the industry because she has many male peers in the creative arts who are “great, great people.” Her brother also works in the industry and she says he was just as surprised and upset to hear about the allegations as she was. She believes the men in the industry have the potential to be great allies.
Bartley hopes that her generation of filmmakers can “change the game” and take power away from the more influential people in Hollywood who exercise their power using sexual assault and harassment, such as Weinstein.
Puglisi’s students seemed eager to join the industry despite the news.
“They love the arts, they love the industry, they all want to do different things and you know, we’ll see what happens. But I think, for them, this is something that they’re glad came out–some of them were really shocked at what happened, what they heard, but it didn’t diminish, didn’t prevent any of them, or convince them not to go into the industry,” Puglisi said.
Puglisi is comforted by the fact that when Weinstein reached out to his board for support in fighting the allegations, a few members immediately resigned and the others refused to help him.
“Hearing strong women speak out against Weinstein has been really inspiring and it makes me excited to enter into the industry at this time where women are becoming more vocal and are finally being heard and taken seriously,” O’Gorman said.
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