Greer targets Metoo ‘whingers’

GERMAINE GREER has criticised “whingeing” #Metoo sexual harassment campaigners, and claimed that many women had “spread their legs” for roles in Harvey Weinstein films.

The 78-year-old feminist writer spoke about her views in an interview yesterday as she was named Australian of the Year in Britain at a gala event at Australia House in London.

Before the event, she said that “in the old days” women would “slap down” men who assaulted or harassed them. “There were movies – such as the Carry On comedies – that always had a man leering after women, and the women always outwitted him; he was a fool. We weren’t afraid of him and we weren’t afraid to slap him down.”

Greer also took issue with the #Metoo movement and the actresses making claims against Hollywood producer Weinstein.

“If you spread your legs because he said ‘Be nice to me and I’ll give you a job in a movie’, then I’m afraid that’s tantamount to consent, and it’s too late to start whingeing about that,” she said.

Greer said women facing sexual harassment should take “direct and immediate action”. She insisted they should be able to tell men to stop if they touch them inappropriately, and added: “I want women to react here and now.”

Some feminists have criticised certain opinions expressed by Greer, even describing them as “misogyny”.

In 2015, she provoked controversy on the issue of transgender, saying surgery could mot make a man a woman.