Break the silence
CALL it the casting couch contract or the audition seduction syndrome, I am distressed by the clear-cut prevalence of sexual exploitation in exchange for access.
The mainstream media, as well as the grapevine, has recently been churning out stories of sex and scandal, power and privilege, behind locked doors at a radio station and on the sets of a local producer of spoof movies.
It is not only the media environment that has been tainted by tales of vulnerable, naive beauties and predatory men. Sex-crazy beasts also roam the corporate jungle.
Thousands of stories remain untold of young women who are victims of abuse at the hands of opportunistic and perverted line managers in various fields of occupation, who consider other people’s bodies as one of the perks of the business. These superiors demand sexual favours in exchange for employment.
I cringe at the thought that not too long from now, my daughter will be job hunting – and that she, too, could be sexually harassed in return for her first pay cheque.
The casting couch procedure of landing a film role has been in existence for as long as the movie industry.
The idea of female stars of the silver screen exchanging sexual favours – willingly or not – for prominent roles is a real-life story that’s practically as old as Hollywood itself. However, it was something that was kept a secret and only spoken about in hushed tones.
The pattern of sexual harassment, coercion and abuse of young actresses became full-blown in the public domain in October 2017, when it was reported that dozens of women accused American film producer Harvey Weinstein of rape, sexual assault and sexual abuse over a period of at least 30 years.
The high-profile status of Weinstein and of the women who have accused him, among them Ashley Judd, Gwyneth Paltrow and Rose McGowan, has shone a spotlight on a problem that appears to be all-pervasive. Since the unmasking of Weinstein, women from all walks of life have started to share their own stories of harassment and rape, or simply raised their hand on social media with the short but powerful phrase #MeToo.
While the #MeToo movement, which encourages women to speak out against sexual harassment and assault, has been gaining traction, there has been a parallel upsurge in “blessers” or “sugar daddies”, who have taken over the lives of many young women.
These blessers promise money, expensive clothes, trips around the world and all sorts of luxuries in exchange for sex. Blessers also have a Facebook site called the Blesser Finder where they advertise themselves as people looking for blessees.
KZN Health MEC Sibongiseni Dhlomo has blamed blessers for the spread of the HIV virus and urged society to confront and condemn this practice where old men with big cars go after young women.
One can empathise with career-ambitious young women falling prey to “sleazy predators”.
The majority of them do not come from privileged backgrounds and are not the sharpest pencils in the drawer. They are easily swayed and manipulated.
We have already heard of many radio bosses who had promised wannabe announcers and DJs shifts for sex.
With pounding hearts and yearning to be the persona behind the radio mic, many a young woman has been bedded shortly after a fake audition – only to be later told that her voice just did not cut it.
It’s a case of career aspirations at a youthful age subjugating the determination to hold on to good character, morality and reputation at all costs.
Many young women have learnt the hard way that not only had they been tricked into believing the job was there for the taking, but that they had also traded their honour and integrity by auditioning in bed.
I know of many beautiful – but hare-brained – young women in low-paid jobs who are kept as sex slaves by bosses. They boast to their colleagues how lucky they are to have caught the eye of the MD and catch rides in his sports car. If only these women realised that each of them is only another one in a long line of the sex bully’s conquests.
It is time for more women to come forward to share their stories of sexual abuse by managers in all workplaces who enjoy power. Those women who have been sexually propositioned when they applied for a job or a part in a movie must speak out.
Confronting these issues head-on can be uncomfortable, but whenever you’re able to use your voice, you’re not only standing up for yourself, but for possibly dozens of others who’ve been offended by the same type of experience, or even by the same person.
Bob Hewitt was a South African tennis legend. He won seven titles in singles and 65 in doubles, including winning all Grand Slam doubles titles. He was ranked World Number Six in 1967 and was even inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
It took one woman in 2011, decades after the incident, to come forward and testify that Hewitt had sexually abused her when she was 10 years old.
The floodgates holding back generations of unreported harassment burst open and more women came forward with their stories that showed that Hewitt had taken love-setmatch too far.
Hewitt was charged in June 2014 with the rape and sexual assault of three teenage girls who were his tennis students in the 1980s and 90s. In March 2015 he was found guilty. In September 2016, when all his appeals had failed, Hewitt started a sixyear jail term at the age of 76.
I recall an incident a few years ago when one brave young woman journalist working on a Durban-based newspaper stood up for her rights – and dignity – when she reported to management her superior was in the habit of groping, fondling and stroking junior female reporters. Even worse, he would promise cadet or trainee reporters a permanent position if they slept with him.
For a good few years before that, many young women had painfully endured this monster’s sexual harassment for fear of losing the chance to land a full-time job.
It was only after the bold testimony of one woman that there was a full and proper investigation, victims gave sworn statements and a disciplinary hearing was held. The sex pest was summarily dismissed.
Women must also know when to walk away from certain tempting opportunities. They must guard against getting into a horizontal position in exchange for the promise of vertical career advancement.
Companies must also do more to stem sexual abuse and harassment in the workplaces.
I am certain that the powers-that-be at SABC headquarters in Auckland Park have bulging files of complaints of sexual predators who allegedly have had free reign at a radio station for many years. What, if any, action has been taken to get to the root of this evil state of affairs?
It was only after risqué videos of a naked female presenter went viral a few months ago that the contract of a senior manager at the beleaguered radio station was not renewed.
Company chief executives should set up a hotline for matters concerning alleged sexual assault and demands for sexual favours involving managers.
If the sexually-harassed employee cannot resolve an issue or is afraid to go through the normal human resources channels, she can pick up the telephone and leave a hotline message, preferably with a name, so that the chief executive can figure out who is allegedly doing what to whom.
Sexual harassment or abuse is a sin against the dignity of the human person and has no place in society.
We need silence breakers to curb this serious problem. Speaking out is not only empowering, but can be the first step on the road to healing.