This week the female voice has once again been silenced by the powers that be. Harvey Weinstein’s 2020 rape conviction was overturned and the recommendations in a report about improving gender equality in the music industry were rejected by the UK government.
“For the Government to choose not to make music safer for women is painfully disappointing, if sadly not surprising.”
Independent Society of Musicians
It felt like an apt time to watch the film She Said which follows the New York Times investigation that exposed Harvey Weinstein’s history of abuse and sexual misconduct against women.
As someone who didn’t follow the full ins and outs of that story or all the claims that have come out as part of the #MeToo movement, the film was eye opening in terms of the extent taken by individuals and the industry to silence women. Fortunately the two lead journalists, played by Carey Mulligan and Zoe Kazan, didn’t take no for an answer to ensure the truth got out. It was also great to see a film with a fantastic female led cast, also including Samantha Morton, Jennifer Ehle and Patricia Clarkson.
Of course this sort of behaviour sadly isn’t new. Many years ago I remember reading Sex Lives of the Hollywood Goddesses telling the stories of the actresses in the first half of the 1900s, and the infamous ‘casting couch’.
Whilst things may have moved on in many aspects of life in the last 100 years, the fight for gender equality continues and male power and egos still prevail in multiple industries. Sadly it feels like the people who have a chance to make some real changes don’t really care. When the Minister for Women and Equalities is a black woman who has never voted on equal gay rights and has voted against laws to promote equality and human rights, is it any wonder?!