Harvey Weinstein, once lauded as an eminent movie producer, yet is now perceived as a predator to women in Hollywood.  Despite his notorious reputation for being a sexual predator, actresses still line up to work for him because his movies promoted them for Oscar nominations and built up their fame for other films.  While some want to believe that the licentious behavior ended at the workplace, this desire only reflected a workplace norm: a disregard for unfair actions committed by people with authority.  However, just recently, the long silenced sexual harassment allegations against Harvey Weinstein have been publicized.

On October 5th, 2017, The New York Times published a detailed report about the allegations of sexual harassment against Harvey Weinstein within the past decades.  Among the actresses were Rose McGowan, Ashley Judd, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Angelina Jolie, who recalled meeting privately with the Hollywood mogul on the pretense of business meetings.  Currently, a total of more than 60 actresses have accused the director of varying degrees of harassment and 27 have accused him of sexual assault; the NYPD and the London police are still investigating additional cases against Weinstein.

Due to mounting public pressure, the Weinstein Company’s company board fired Weinstein on October 8th.  Within 48 hours, four other male board members resigned as well.

But how come these actresses have not spoken up until now?  Due to the taboo of sexual harassment in Hollywood, the power structure coerces women to remain silent.  By acting in a film directed by a movie mogul, the actresses can immediately gain fame and wealth.  Once they become famous, it may not be necessary to audition for parts in order to be chosen.  Additionally, producers could also recommend them for other acting parts, so it is vital to maintain good relationships with them.

On the other hand, actresses face the possibility of being blacklisted in the entertainment industry if they speak up.  Famous directors have a lot of influence and could punish the victims who speak up by annulling their acting contracts and possibly even prevent them from finding future parts, therefore endangering their professional career.

However, recent incidents have inspired more women to come forward.  Companies fired high-standing officials in well-known companies like Fox News and Uber after women accused them of sexual harassment. This established a precedent, empowering women to speak up against ignominious behavior at work.

Women have also found strength in numbers, giving one another the courage to speak out.  On October 15th, actress Alyssa Milano started a movement on Twitter, where hundreds of thousands of people have tweeted #MeToo.  As each woman came out, stating that they had experienced sexual harassment or assault in the workforce, more found the bravery to come out as well.

By toppling this man with authority, a paradigm will be set for future: women do not need to remain quiet.  And this is just the beginning.  Men like Weinstein will come to realize that they cannot hide their depraved behavior by forcing victims to remain silent. Gradually, the changing society will begin to have no tolerance to sexual harassment or assault in the workplace.