ALTRAVE

This is a crime that has been continually committed, but past social norms disallowed its reporting, because it was not seen as a crime.

However, I'm suspicious as to why it's suddenly become such a media celebration, because sexual assault and harrassment of women has always been viewed as something women just have to live with.

I suspect that it's a backdoor assault on Trump, to do with his locker-room admission of grabbing women's pussies as one of the privileges of male power.

Whatever the reason, it's now a matter of public debate. The likelihood of women presenting frivolous claims against much admired celebrities in the face of aggressive legal scrutiny is extremely low.

Killarney,

I agree with you and the the author, Binoy and Wooly B. The last mentioned introduced Professor Daphne Patai, who is a most interesting and informative read.

To an extent this is being media driven, but at the same time most here would be aware of the sly manipulation of the media by political interests. - That in the case of people like currency-dealing billionaire George Soros may the the puppeteers seeking to de-stabilise society for their own agendas, and unlike politicians are not subject to scrutiny in any people's house.

Of course it is good that some of the slimes are being called to account and yes, natural justice should still apply otherwise we are no better than them.

However, what is easily missed is that the situation is NOT being improved at all for women, for humanity, it is sliding very rapidly back to the Fifties and before and because of the very forces who claim to be improving the lot for women. Maybe if I just present an example without the pages of argument. That example could the sexualisation of children, especially girls, that is an unintended negative consequence of left 'Progressivism'.

The dramatic increase in girls having sex before 16 (and of course much younger) and servicing males in accord with their role according to the porn industry should be very worrying indeed. There is a political correctness that turns a blind eye to some of the major abuses of girls and women, such as girls reporting a new and high, incidence of anal penetration. The anus does not require consent, how does that work?

Yet 'Progressives' may claim those sorry numbers and the nasty denial of women's sexuality (there are many layers of wrong there) as 'wins', 'proof' to normalise anal sex, which is their higher priority.

While the public is being entertained with celebrities shirt-fronting celebrities over past history, far greater wrongs affecting women are becoming commonplace and legitimised.

maybe all these men were lone wolfs who had drug and mental health problems, you know kind of like all the lone wolf muslims blowing up and ploughing cars into people.

Whilst what I am reading has some validity, I am troubled by the fact that too much is being made on the topic of the abuse of women and girls. The fault actually lies squarely in the womens camp. There has been a very aggressive push to liberate and promote women to a level regarded as 'equal to men'. It is beyond comprehension why women would want to seek such hollow glory. By suggesting such a thing they have clearly betrayed themselves. By aspiring to be like someone else the women are denigrating themselves by implying that they are less than men. Women will never be like men it's a fallacy that was started by feminists and both men and women have been conned into this belief and in doing so we have seen parents 'grooming' their daughters into something which, quite frankly, is disgusting. I have never seen such un-feminine images on TV as I have over the past few decades. All this to be like men! Whatever the reason for this surge in disgusting (including sexual) behaviour, there is no blame. Unless the man rapes the woman, anything else is consensual. Never mind justifying who said what. One would expect the 'once bitten twice shy' to come into play. All I know is if I don't like something after having experienced or tasted or seen it once, I will ensure I never re-visit it again. Another very important and relevant fact. I am appalled that this current system of law charges someone for an act of the past on a law of the future. That is bad law enforcement. These old accusations were the norm back then and that's where they belong. If someone wants to de-fame someone by all means embarrass them via whatever means possible, but to take it through the process of law, is wrong. How stupid and vindictive has society become that we attack someone with a law of the future for an act of the past, especially when that act was common-place.

leoj

I'm not sure I follow your argument. Could we not accept that sexual exploitation exists in the film industry?

For now, let us acknowledge that there have been less than 6% of female film directors over the last hundred years of film history. Why is this so?

This article written by Salma Hyek may provide some insight.

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/12/13/opinion/contributors/salma-hayek-harvey-weinstein.html

The sexploitation film industry has prevented women from producing and directing films, from telling women's stories about women's experience, in favour of female roles that view women through men's eyes.

Yes, all you say about pornography and anal penetration is important, but it is outside of this discussion.

ALTRAV

Even in the past, the perpetrators knew that what they were doing was morally and criminally wrong. They acted in the knowledge that they were powerful and wealthy and thought that they were above the law.

Now that the worm has turned, they are now being brought to account for their actions.

As I've said before in this commentary, I'm suspicious of the mainstream media's intentions. I suspect that this is a back-door assault on Trump for his locker-room video.

Whatever. Creative women, who want to advance in the film industry, have learned to submit to powerful men's perversions if they want the roles they covet. Blame the victim all you like, but victims and perpetrators operate within a strict system.