So far, one week hasn’t gone by without a powerful man being accused of horrific harassment and abuse. This week, we got several: Matt Lauer, Garrison Keillor and Israel Horovitz. It’s a lot. But one thing gave me a bit of hope; the response of Horovitz’s son, Adam (also known as Ad Rock of the Beastie Boys).
His response was simple and refreshing: “I believe the allegations against my father are true, and I stand behind the women that made them.”
It’s actually quite a good model for men who want to be allies. Right now, we’re hearing a lot from men about how shocked they are, or how the behavior of abusers doesn’t align with “the man they know”.
Obviously finding out something terrible about someone you love is difficult, but the best way to show your support for women – and this moment – is not to reflect on your own feelings or surprise, but on the victims.
So thanks this week to men trying their best to be supportive – we need it.
Glass half full
Jenny Slate is writing a book of feminist essays – it’s just the news I needed this week to make the rest of the horror feel a bit more bearable.
What I’m RTing
If wealthy, highly visible women in news and entertainment are sexually harassed, assaulted and raped -- what do we think is happening to women in retail, food service and domestic work?
— Charlene Carruthers (@CharleneCac) November 29, 2017
I had the opportunity to speak at @nyu_journalism this week about being a minority journalist. People asked about my experience as a Muslim. Be it today or everyday, I cannot emphasize enough: Diversify your newsrooms.
— Sabrina Siddiqui (@SabrinaSiddiqui) November 29, 2017
remember when Matt Lauer grilled Anne Hathaway about a paparazzi’s exploitative upskirt photo of her, said “seen a lot of you lately,” then asked if she’d learned her lesson? https://t.co/8vYDG754e9
— Amanda Hess (@amandahess) November 29, 2017
I covered the campaign last year. Over and over men insinuated that women's analysis of HRC's candidacy were "biased," or "subjective," or "opinion."
— Charlotte Alter (@CharlotteAlter) November 29, 2017
When women wrote about Hillary, it was a "feminist take." When men wrote about Hillary, it was "the truth."
Read this thread. https://t.co/WC1hzYwBGm
— Spencer Ackerman (@attackerman) November 29, 2017
Who I’m reading
Ezra Klein on the case for normalizing impeachment; Sheelah Kolhatkar on a lawyer trying to use a novelist’s sexual past as part of a lawsuit; and here at the Guardian, the disturbing rise in conspiracy theorists harassing victims of mass shootings.
What I’m writing
Male sexuality isn’t naturally predatory, and arguments that say otherwise put us all in danger.
How outraged I am
The Federalist came out in support of Roy Moore, arguing that being with younger women isn’t so bad if you want to have a lot of kids. On a scale on one to 10, I’m … I’m just done.
How I’m making it through this week
This, from badasscrossstitch, based on a tweet, is giving me my life back.
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