Powerful Women in Hollywood Come Together to Combat Sexual Harassment
The Harvey Weinstein scandal shook up Hollywood and brought down several high-profile men in various industries. Now, 300 prominent Hollywood women have come together to do more. Actresses, agents, executives, writers, directors, and producers have teamed up to form Time’s Up. It’s an initiative aimed at combating sexual harassment in the workplace. They’ve also created a legal defense fund to assist women in blue-collar and agricultural industries. Some of the women involved include Shonda Rhimes, Reese Witherspoon, Kerry Washington, and Ashley Judd.
In a full-page letter published in The New York Times, Time’s Up details it’s purpose and how it plans on reaching and helping women who’ve been victimized in their workplaces.
It’s time to shift the balance in the workplace, from representing the few to representing us all. Sign the #TIMESUP solidarity letter and donate to the #TIMESUP Legal Defense Fund right here: https://t.co/GNhkSnWIDb pic.twitter.com/a5oi2Sbaam
— TIME'S UP (@TIMESUPNOW) January 1, 2018
The letter states, “We remain committed to holding our own workplaces accountable, pushing for swift and effective change to make the entertainment industry a safe and equitable place for everyone, and telling women’s stories through our eyes and voices with the goal of shifting our society’s perception and treatment of women.” It’s then signed by more than 300 women.
This letter is in response to a letter of solidarity written by Latina farmworkers. Alianza Nacional de Campesinas is an organization of current and former farmworker women. They sent an open letter to women in the entertainment industry, detailing their own struggles to find safety and equity in their industry. You can read the full letter here.
According to the Time’s Up website, the initiative hopes to accomplish their goals through legislation, fundraising, and calls for protest among women in Hollywood and other industries. A legal defense fund created by the initiative had a goal of $15,000,000. At the time of publication, it was just about $900,000 shy of hitting that goal. The fund raised over 14 million dollars in just over two weeks.
Several of the powerful women involved in Time’s Up tweeted about the initiative and fund.
I stand with ALL WOMEN across every industry to say #TIMESUP on abuse, harassment, marginalization and underrepresentation. Join me! Sign the statement of solidarity & donate to the @TIMESUPNW Legal Defense Fund: https://t.co/7FofMhTaUJ pic.twitter.com/vEB3jYCRgD
— Reese Witherspoon (@ReeseW) January 1, 2018
Time's up on silence. Time's up on waiting. Time's up on tolerating discrimination, harassment and abuse. #TimesUp Sign the solidarity letter & donate to the @TIMESUPNW Legal Defense Fund: https://t.co/eTwKtOboIl pic.twitter.com/q8aok1HTGg
— shonda rhimes (@shondarhimes) January 1, 2018
A few weeks ago, The Silence Breakers were named Time Magazine’s Person of the Year. Women everywhere have found the courage to come forward with their stories. And now, we have women coming together to fight this epidemic. Finally.
Also read: Hoda Kotb Named New Co-Anchor of NBC’s ‘Today,’ Joins Savannah Guthrie
(Image: Twitter/@PPact)