Harvey Weinstein, Kevin Spacey, Louis C.K. and Charlie Rose. For the past two months, it seems media moguls all over the world over have been falling from grace.
In the acting and entertainment industry, the publicity around many of the recent sexual assault and harassment allegations could topple the long-standing ‘boy’s club’ attitude in Hollywood.
Others – cashiers, waitresses, and the rest of the non-celebrity workforce that powers our society – hope the accusations finally bring the dark underside of corporate culture into the public light.
“You have to light the grass on fire in order to weed out all the snakes,” said Anisha Cheema, an actor and student currently working out of Vancouver, B.C.
“While it’s disheartening to see how many of these allegations have been brought forward,” she said, “It’s also hopeful.”
Weinstein, co-founder of the Hollywood mega corporation the Weinstein Company, was accused in October of dozens of incidents of alleged sexual assault by some of Hollywood’s most elite.
Since then, over 30 other prominent entertainment, media and political figures have fallen like celebrity dominoes in a sea of accusations and scandal.
But how did these media giants come to dominate the entertainment industry? And more importantly, what went wrong?
Lisa Ovies, a director, producer, actress and studio owner of Rogue Studios in Vancouver, B.C., believes the power imbalance in Hollywood and in most companies comes down to gatekeeper culture.
When a small group holds the majority of the power in any industry, they have the ability to control others below them.
“There’s a lot of gatekeepers that have the ability to make or break careers, and I think there’s a lot of abuse of that power,” said Ovies.
Many Hollywood elites now find themselves facing the consequences, but women outside of the celebrity bubble want the world to know these types of actions are not isolated to the acting community.
Alex Black, an 18-year-old store cashier, said she regularly experiences sexual harassment while on the job.
“I was bent over bagging merchandise as my customer paid when suddenly I felt someone grab my bum from behind me,” she alleged.
“Before I had the chance to say anything, the customer said ‘Sorry, I just couldn’t help myself’ and walked away,” she said.
For Black, the tide of celebrity accusations brings some hope that justice could trickle down from the top. Celebrities can no longer hide behind “a shield of fame”, she said.
Cheema said the entertainment industry has long hidden it’s problems in the shadows, but the public tide of allegations and accusations is starting a positive movement towards change.
But don’t expect justice any time soon. “Other industries still have a lot of work to do,” she said.
Infographic by: Stephanie Liu
Feature photo via Entertainment Tonight
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