AustLit

'As allegations of Harvey Weinstein’s history of sexual assault and abuse of power are revealed, I despair.

'It’s not just that the reports coming out of Hollywood – and, you know, every single other industry – are so awful, but that the response to them is so predictable. Why didn’t the women speak up earlier? they ask. About these men, whose stories we are forced to endure not because they are more important, but because women’s stories need to be corroborated. Because women on their own can only tell ‘one side of the story’ – women’s side – by its nature (allegedly) subject to hysteria, outbursts and irrationality. Women did speak up earlier. In 2005, Courtney Love warned actresses about working with Weinstein. Why didn’t anyone listen? Because the men were silent.' (Anna Spargo-Ryan : Editorial introduction)