Weinstein case impact: Watershed or washout?
Reactions intense but may not bring about lasting change
The Harvey Weinstein scandal is hailed as a “watershed moment,” but many moments that first appear to be watersheds aren’t, and many that really are watersheds become apparent only in retrospect.
Such moments are less about their impact on us than on those who come after us. That’s why this exceptional case, with its grotesque protagonist, Hollywood setting and social media explosion, seems a dubious candidate for the watershed pantheon — except maybe as a cautionary tale about rushing to judgment.
Weinstein, the powerful and successful movie producer, is accused by many women, some quite famous, of being at least a sexual harasser and at worst a sexual assailant. He has both denied the charges and promised to seek help.
The scandal has provoked a massive social media conversation, symbolized by the #Me-