The Big Bang Theory star Mayim Bialik has attracted fierce criticism for an op-ed she penned about the multiple allegations of sexual assault
and harassment made against Harvey Weinstein.
Writing for the New York Times, which broke the story of the allegations against Weinstein,Bialik said that although she was “shocked and disgusted” by the accusations, she was not surprised.
“I quickly learned even as a preteen actress that young girls with doe eyes and pouty lips who spoke in a high register were favoured for roles by the powerful men who made those decisions,” Bialik wrote.
She went on to claim the choices she makes today that she deems to be “self-protecting and wise.”
“I have decided that my sexual self is best reserved for private situations with those I am most intimate with,” she said. “I dress modestly. I don't act flirtatiously with men as a policy.”
The piece sparked an immediate backlash from critics on social media who said Bialik was implying that a conservative wardrobe and modest behaviour could protect someone from sexual assault.
They also pointed out that she appeared to have ignored how the central motive behind sexual assault and harassment is power, not sexual desire.
Others denounced her for apparently demonizing women based on how closely they met typical standards of beauty in Hollywood, and suggesting they invited harassment because of their looks.
.@missmayim I have to say I was dressed non provocatively at 12 walking home from school when men masturbated at me. It's not the clothes.
Expressing opinions/creating dialogue is important. That said, I don’t agree w/ a LOT of this, @missmayim. AND I think you’re really pretty. twitter.com/nytimes/status…
Adore @missmayim and 99% of this. But idea that less conventionally “pretty” women don’t get assaulted—not so. nyti.ms/2z4rlqS
I read Mayim’s article; I don’t believe women are assaulted bc of beauty standards. They are assaulted bc certain men are criminals.
— Andrea Barber (@andreabarber) October 15, 2017
Mayim Bialik missed the perfect opportunity to call out men in Hollywood. Instead she blames women. twitter.com/nytimes/status…
Sad it still needs to be said: people who look, dress all kinds of ways are also sexually assaulted or harassed. mobile.nytimes.com/2017/10/13/opi…
I don't even know where to start with how misguided and at times, mean-spirited this article is nytimes.com/2017/10/13/opi…
Really want to again congratulate @missmayim on being too SMART to be PRETTY ENOUGH to get raped. What a great take to give to the world.
In which @missmayim essentially congratulates herself for not having been sexually assaulted. As though it's a matter of choice. twitter.com/nytimes/status…
Men can do the same. They are in control of their actions and they need to be held responsible for them.
"I have decided that my sexual self is best reserved for private situations with those I am most intimate with. I dress modestly." This is disgusting. @missmayim is placing blame on victims and forgetting that rape and assault are about power, not about desire. twitter.com/nytimes/status…
“As a proud feminist with little desire to diet, get plastic surgery or hire a personal trainer, I have almost no personal experience with men asking me to meeting in their hotel rooms,” Bialik continued.
“Those of us in Hollywood who don't represent an impossible standard of beauty have the 'luxury' of being overlooked and, in many cases, ignored by men in power unless we can make them money.”
0 Comments