The #MeToo Tipping Point

"Tipping point" and "critical mass" are two terms which the science of sociology has borrowed from the science of physics to help isolate and define the moment when social forces reach a certain state where rapid change occurs and society is altered with regard to specific cultural issues.  I have never seen such a splendid example of this as what we are witnessing now with sexual harassment in the United States.

According to the CBS News: "Ashley Judd says the Harvey Weinstein scandal can effect real change for women. The actress said the continuing flurry of allegations against Weinstein means society is at a 'tipping point' on sexual harassment." (The emphasis in the various quotes I submit for your consideration in the post are mine.)

There seems to be a broad nature to this uprising over sexual harassment.  "Critical mass" is happening in Canada too: "The avalanche of complaints has inspired other survivors to speak out about being sexually abused and harassed. Callers, many of whom are sharing their stories with someone for the first time, are prompted by the critical mass of others with similar experiences and feel safer reaching out..." 

Though the avalanche of allegations is widespread across race, economic class, and even gender, it is, of course, that nature of American culture that celebrity lends the greatest weight to feeding the news cycle regarding this phenomenon.  Here's the latest, growing list.

Several news outlets stress the "unprecedented" nature of this outpouring of rage, accusation, and exposure. The Chicago Tribune, for example: "The feminist movement has been re-energized. You will see progress on a whole host of issues affecting women such as reproductive rights, equal pay, freedom from violence and hopefully more.”

To those closest to the long-standing issue, this time it feels different.  According to The Guardian: "The explosive allegations of sexual assault by the film producer Harvey Weinstein, spanning several decades, have become a huge talking point because his victims are well-known names. And this has led to an outpouring, in Hollywood and far beyond.

"...it is significant that the outpouring has spread from the largely US-based entertainment industry, to Britain’s theatre and art world, the BBC, charities and parliament; WhatsApp groups share stories of harassment in journalism, too. 

“'This time, it feels a little bit different,' says Kimmel. 'It feels like the women are being believed publicly, and women are lining up to talk about this. I think this is another moment in the long progression of the renegotiation of the relationship between women and men at work. This is about the entitlement felt by men in power that they can do these sorts of things. We’ve witnessed over the past 25 years the gradual believing of women when they tell these stories.'"

Though the issue is obviously not anything new, and women have come forward with allegations before, this time the social force behind it is more powerful, partially thanks to (and indicative of) the #MeToo social media phenomena which began just a couple of weeks ago.  From The Houston Chronicle: "The sudden and widespread attention given to the hashtag has sparked a newfound sense of urgency in demanding action to stem the prevalence of harassment and assault against women in the workplace and in their personal lives. And women across the globe are now wrestling with how to turn a hashtag in danger of becoming a pop-culture platitude into a significant moment in a larger movement.

"While Milano brought #MeToo to the mainstream this weekend, it's been lingering around the edges of social media for close to a decade now, initially conceived by feminist activist Tarana Burke with the same goal in mind. Still, Gregory was not surprised the tipping point for bringing "Me too" into the mainstream centered on an issue born from Hollywood."

Another source echoes my own interest with this sociological moment:  "It’s been fascinating to observe the shift in public discourse over sexual assault in the aftermath of revelations reported largely by the New York Times and the New Yorker that Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein serially abused multiple women, allegedly up to and including rape, while employees and friends looked the other way. Even though Weinstein’s behavior was an open secret for years, the revelations somehow creating a tipping point for a consensus to finally emerge among women and men alike that sexual harassment, catcalling, groping and lewd comments are not acceptable under any circumstances."

Something about the sexual harassment news cycle this time is transforming the issue and solidifying the social implications of sexual harassment in America.  Fast Company writes: "You can also expect this list to grow -- because the Harvey Weinstein story appears to be well on its way from being a scandal to being a movement.

"There’s nothing new about powerful men being accused of sexual harassment.  For years we’ve seen allegations against men at the highest levels of their respective fields– Bill O’Reilly, R. Kelly, Louis CK, Woody Allen, Bill Cosby, Roman Polanski, and of course Donald Trump, just for starters. The unfamiliar part is that there are starting to be actual consequences."

"Despite this feeling familiar, it also feels singularly different. Weinstein’s outing and ouster may, in fact, signal a real turning point when it comes to the age-old story of men, power and sexual harassment.

The New York Daily News: "While Weinstein’s behavior was Hollywood’s worst kept secret for decades and it took far too long to tell, the New Yorker and the New York Times should be lauded for having the guts to pursue the truth about a man who wielded significant influence within their own circles.

"...the wave of victims came like a torrential flood. In the case of accusations against Fox News’ Roger Ailes, Donald Trump, Bill Cosby, Bill Clinton and Bill O’Reilly, their victims were slower to tell their stories, even after the first woman came out.

"Another sign the times may be changing is that Weinstein’s wife is not standing by him in the wake of humiliating revelations about his sexual deviance. Unlike Clinton, Trump, Cosby and Anthony Weiner’s wives, who either initially supported their husbands or continue to today, Georgina Chapman swiftly announced she was leaving Weinstein, calling his actions “unforgivable” and acknowledging the “tremendous pain” he’s caused women. We’ve heard no such thing from Hillary, Melania, Camille or Huma."

The Nation: "We have belatedly begun a national conversation about sexual assault in the workplace. Women have outed powerful men as not merely boors but calculating predators. We’ve acknowledged this as a bipartisan problem, one that stretches from the White House to Hollywood. And legions of women have bravely spoken up to reveal just how unexceptional Donald Trump and Harvey Weinstein are in all of our communities. Our collective dirty secret is being aired: On the left and right alike, we have allowed boys to be boys for far too long.

"And so maybe we are headed for a reckoning. It should be clear by now that sexual harassment isn’t about sex; it’s about power. But it’s also about more than one individual attacking another. So many women have experienced so much harassment on the job because it’s one of the many tools used to keep men in charge of economic life. It is literally written into the code of our economy."

Common Dreams talks about the "floodgates opening": "The feeling that a massive dam has broken has been echoed in recent days by long-time activists, as allegations and accounts of sexual harassment and assault continue to pour in from all angles, seemingly by the hour.

"When asked by MSNBC's Chris Hayes in a segment Wednesday night to characterize the present moment—which has prompted thousands of women to come forward with their experiences in a wide variety of personal and professional contexts—actress and activist Jane Fonda said she believes the U.S. has finally reached 'tipping point.'

"It feels different. It feels like something has shifted," Fonda observed. "It's too bad that it's probably because so many of the women that were assaulted by Harvey Weinstein are famous and white and everybody knows them. This has been going on a long time to black women and other women of color and it doesn't get out quite the same."

"Prominent feminist Gloria Steinem agreed that a fundamental shift seems to be taking place, but highlighted the fact that there is 'still a critical mass of bias in this country' that allows sexist and racist behavior to persist. 'If you steal money, you probably get arrested and convicted, because everybody says stealing is wrong,' Steinem said. 'But if you do something that is very sexist or racist, because there still is a critical mass of bias in this country, it takes more cumulative instances for it to be recognized. So we have reached a tipping point I think.'"

My fascination is with why now?  #MeToo has enabled this social force to take on a high-charged solidarity, but, as the articles point out above, there were plenty of opportunities for this exceptional level of public outcry before.  Why now?

Why, for example, did Anthony Rapp choose now to reveal Kevin Spacey's sexual advance toward him way back in 1986?  Why have allegations against the aged former president George H.W. Bush come out now when not a word was uttered about him when then-candidate Donald Trump's infamous "pussy" comments were revealed?  Wouldn't that have been a more appropriate time, presidents being presidents and all?  Where did all this urgency suddenly come from?  Any of these allegations could have been made two years ago when Bill Cosby was indicted or months ago when Trump's inappropriate comments were revealed.  

But they weren't.  Though there were "public outcries" before, the mass wave of accusers did not emerge until the last few weeks.  That is why feminists and the media use words like "unprecedented" and "critical mass."  That is why, only now,  Woody Allen fears that it could all become a "witch hunt."  There was plenty of material for a witch hunt long before now.  But only now does the hunt seem to be on.

This is a fascinating thing to observe from a sociological perspective.  It is, perhaps, a watershed moment for women's rights in this country.  The #MeToo hashtag didn't cause this to happen, but it offered the "tipping point" a "seismic" outlet.  What makes it different this time?  My guess is that this says as much about the nature of "celebrity" in this country as it does about sexual harassment.  Perhaps, the sheer weight of celebrity revelation pushed things over the edge.

Perhaps it is an example of the theoretical "hundredth monkey" phenomenon.  Whatever the reason(s), it seems that, quite suddenly, we are living in a different world today and that the dynamics of sexual harassment have finally altered.  That is certainly progress.  But, of equal interest to me, is that this is a clearly definable tipping point in our society.  That social/cultural tipping points exist at all and what their mechanics might be is a fascinating subject.  

We reached such points in the past when slavery was ended, when women obtained the right to vote, when gays were allowed to marry, and so forth.  This moment of cultural change, brought about as it was by a dark and sinister aspect of American life, is well worth noting.  It is a hopeful sign in these uncertain times that maybe it is still possible to gradually and haphazardly feel our way toward wisdom and make the world a better place through the transformation of the public sphere.