There’s no shame in speaking out against abuse

What took Uma Thurman so long to come out against producer Harvey Weinstein’s assaults? Fear and shame. Imagine the damage it could done to her then fledgling career if she had exposed the abuses before the release of the movie Pulp Fiction in 1994. Since then, she’s been beaten and raped. More than 20 years later, she has emerged stronger to tell the horrible tale, joining the ranks of Salma Hayek and other victims. It wasn’t just Weinstein, she has revealed, but also the leading director Quentin Tarantino. We salute her for her courage. It’s been three months since Hollywood’s high and mighty have fallen in the wake of several allegations of sexual assault made by actresses. The casting couch was often discussed but it has remained hush. Past allegations were swept under the carpet. There was fear and trembling among women to take on the men who ruled Hollywood until the #metoo campaign happened and actresses spilled the beans on the monsters who once controlled their lives. The lies, the deceit and the perversion shocked the world.

Many feared for their careers and lives, so played along, wishing and hoping the nightmare would go away. Credit must go to the media who revealed the culture of abuse that was rampant in the movie business. It was a conspiracy of silence, but more women are finding the courage to tell their tales about how big producers like Weinstein exploited and left them feeling weak and helpless. “Harvey assaulted me but that didn’t kill me,” said Thurman in her interview. She has broken her silence and there is new strength in the women’s movement that is sweeping Hollywood. Big names like Woody Allen, Dustin Hoffman and others have all be accused and shamed. That the abuse was widespread and more skeletons will soon tumble out is certain. This sordid episode should not be put behind but should help women to speak out against any form of harassment. In a conflict between career and dignity, dignity cannot wait.