Entertainment

Survey from the Hollywood Commission reveals ongoing harassment stigma regarding authority figures

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PHOTO CREDITS: THOMAS WOLF/FOTO

A survey released Tuesday from the Hollywood Commission found that 65% of those surveyed said they did not believe someone in power would be held accountable for harassing someone with less authority, according to USA Today. 

The Commision surveyed almost 10,000 women and men working in or who have sought work in the entertainment industry. Three years after Harvey Weinstein’s sexual assault scandal launched the #MeToo movement, most workers in Hollywood say harassers still are not being held accountable and they need a better way to report sexual misconduct in the workplace. Women (28%) were less likely than men (45%) to believe harassers would be held accountable, and white (36%) and Black respondents (34%) had a more favorable view of accountability than Hispanic or Latin workers (29%).

Only 23% of workers in Hollywood said they had reported harassing behavior to a supervisor; only 9% had reported such behavior to human resources departments and 4% to legal departments. However, more than 90% requested accountability resources. “Things have improved, but not nearly enough,” Anita Hill, who chairs the commission, 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 – whether you’re a victim or a bystander, there’s a belief you will be retaliated against if you complain.”

In response to the survey, the Hollywood Commission is creating a platform where those who feel like they’ve experienced sexual harassment, misconduct, discrimination or bullying can report incidents anonymously. The platform, expected to launch in the first quarter of 2021, will allow people to report immediately or conditionally. A conditional report will notify the person if more people launch a complaint against the same aggressor and give them the option of releasing their identity and becoming involved in an investigation.

ARTICLE: CONNOR KMIECIK

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