/https://specials-images.forbesimg.com/imageserve/5f7390263fb822941327ca0c/0x0.jpg?cropX1=0&cropX2=6000&cropY1=304&cropY2=3678 "Less Than 50% Of Entertainment Industry Says Any Progress Made Since #MeToo, Survey Says")
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Topline
Three years after accusations against disgraced movie producer Harvey Weinstein pushed the #MeToo movement to national prominence, less than half of those working in entertainment say they have seen any progress in addressing power abuse in the industry, according to a new survey.
Anita Hill, the chair of the Hollywood Commission, speaks onstage in New York City in February.
Key Facts
The Hollywood Commission, formed to tackle abuse of power in Hollywood, has released its findings on accountability in entertainment, with most entertainment workers saying there are still major inequities.
Commission chair Anita Hill, famous for having accused Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas of sexual harassment, said the results show that “for too long … there have been ‘open secrets’ about the harassment perpetrated on workers by powerful people who are able to successfully evade accountability for their actions.”
According to the survey of nearly 10,000 self-identified entertainment industry professionals, only 48% reported seeing any improvement in the abuse of power in the industry since #MeToo took off in 2017.
Male and female employees appear to have different perspectives on whether a powerful figure would be held responsible for harassing a person with less authority—45% of men said such a person would be held accountable, compared to only 28% of women surveyed.
The main offenders are powerful people who can sway hiring decisions, and can hurt the reputation of anyone who dares to speak up about misconduct, respondents said.
The vast majority of workers (more than 90%) said they would welcome a helpline to call, resources on how to report an incident, training for bystander intervention and other measures.
Crucial Quote
“Things have improved, but not nearly enough,” Hill told the Associated Press. “People don’t believe their complaints will be taken seriously, they don’t believe that something will happen to people who are found to be harassers. And they do believe there will be retaliation.”
Key Background
The #MeToo movement became a household phrase in 2017, following groundbreaking accusations against Weinstein in a series of reports in the New York Times and the New Yorker. The movement led to similar reckonings in other industries. In March, Weinstein was sentenced to more than two decades behind bars. The Hollywood Commission announced they will launch a new platform next year to help employees report concerning behavior and to track reports of repeat offenders.
Further Reading
Survey: In Hollywood, few believe harassers will be punished (Associated Press)
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