The Harvey Weinstein saga woke us up to a few realities

THE year that finishes today will be long remembered for the courageous decision by so many women to speak out about sexual assault and harassment. It is hard to believe that this movement only began 80 days ago with the initial revelations about the grotesque prolonged attacks on actresses by Hollywood film producer Harvey Weinstein.

The fact that one of the tipping points in the history of the treatment of women was in Hollywood is fascinating in itself.

The creation on October 15 of the #metoo hashtag on Twitter and other social media was the touchpaper that sparked a wildfire that spread across the world in days.

Nothing like it has happened before – but it was waiting a long time to explode. It is now a worldwide movement. The positive implications of what is happening should not be underestimated.

Young women are being empowered to challenge and check the behaviour of men towards them, be it in the workplace, home or social setting.

Men are being reminded that tolerating this behaviour in other men is now over.

The difference now is that women who’ll speak up – be it in a pub or in the public space – now know that they will not only be believed but they will get support. And it’s not over yet. Toxic masculinity has been challenged. The ‘lads’ culture has been fractured.

The #me too campaign will inevitably lead to individuals, groups and institutions having to check their inbuilt prejudice in the year ahead.

Attending the annual service of nine lessons and carols in St Patrick’s Cathedral a few days before Christmas I was shocked that there was not one single female reader in the service. This prejudice is not preordained – it could easily have been changed to include proper representation of women.

This cannot continue. The Roman Catholic Church must realise that it too will come under even more scrutiny for its prejudicial position on women. I presume part of the €20m cost of the visit of Pope Francis to Ireland next August will be used to employ a ‘gender officer’, who will ensure that every aspect of the visit will be vetted.

My abiding memory of the last papal visit in 1979 was the sea of white robed men processing to the altar in the Phoenix Park. There wasn’t a woman in sight. One million men and women turned up in the park on September 29 1979 – the biggest gathering ever in Ireland – one of the reasons the number will be lower next August is the treatment of women by the church.

But the ‘check your own prejudice’ movement will challenge those who judge people by their colour, race, class or gender.

When Senator Lynn Ruane made an impassioned speech in the Seanad, calling for a frank debate on class difference in Ireland, she was told they could debate in the new year. Where you are born determines your education, health, employment and life prospects – there is little if any debate on this scandal – hopefully it will be challenged and change in the year ahead.

If it does happen, just like the #metoo movement, then we will all be the better for it.