Lip-service feminism doesn’t give you a pass to ignore sexual harassment
Opinion
If we want to drive real equality in media, we must call time on lip-service feminism and self-interested silence.
Imagine being bullied out of a job while heavily pregnant, only to see your perpetrator lauded by the industry press as a champion of inclusion.
Consider how you would feel if you suffered not just sexual harassment and a subsequent cover-up, but had to endure those who silenced you publicly selling themselves as diversity advocates.
Or the non-disclosure agreement you signed bringing with it not just a loss of your voice, but guilt that your enforced silence has in turn placed other women in danger.
Imagine having to travel to Cannes Lions to share a villa with a man who had been sexually harassing you, despite asking repeatedly to not attend.
Breaking cycles
Now imagine I told you the truth. That all of those leaders carelessly perpetuating inequality and ignoring abuse were women.
It is a truth that is deeply uncomfortable, yet nonetheless vital to address if we are to really break these toxic cycles of abuse, misogyny, discrimination and sexual harassment. These are cycles of pain and dehumanisation that continue to kill women’s careers, devastate lives and jeopardise women’s safety.
These are vital issues that we appear to have become collectively numb to.
Now is the time to recognise that adopting the language of feminism is not a get-out-of-jail-free card for the catastrophic lack of accountability that continues to thrive in corners of our industry.
We have all been complicit in turning a blind eye. Drinking a warm glass of white wine and listening to a panel discussion on eradicating sexism in our industry. Leaning in to a narrative of change, while the next generation of female leaders walk into the same bullshit barriers, bias and sexual harassment that we have been enduring for decades.
Honesty drives change
Now is the time for honest truth. Our industry’s biggest platforms continue to place their commercial interests ahead of women’s safety. Yet, once again, it is the women in our industry who are changing the centre of gravity, having the courage to tell the truth, regardless of personal cost.
So why are so many of our industry leaders seemingly on mute?
For female leaders, our WhatsApp groups have pinged all year round with red flags. Yet warnings that women’s drinks were being spiked at a networking event at a major marketing conference barely raised an eyebrow, let alone a meaningful headline.
Another line in the sand turned to dust. An opportunity for genuine change and self-reflection missed.
These shocking stories remain under the surface. The burden of telling the truth continues to lean disproportionately on the women who hold the least power. Women who do not owe anyone their stories, yet embrace barbaric levels of resilience to push for change by bravely sharing their experiences.
Truth is oxygen
The steadfast integrity and determination of Adweek’s Rebecca Stewart brought the unvarnished truth of the sexual harassment experienced by female students at Cannes out of WhatsApp groups and into the mainstream.
Once again, it was the women with the least power — in this case, students looking to enter the industry — showing the most grit and bravery by sharing their stories.
Stewart’s story revealed that Cannes Lions, the commercial juggernaut of our industry’s awards calendar, is so concerned with sexual harassment that it isn’t even monitoring it. As Adweek wrote: “Organisers confirmed they could not provide stats related to sexual assault at the festival, relying on incidents reported directly to them for visibility of the issue.”
A statement that should provoke a simple response, regardless of your gender: WTAF?
If we profess to care so much about sexual harassment, if we campaign against it, if we run advertising campaigns to remind people not to do it — why the actual fuck is such a giant of our industry awards calendar not properly monitoring it? Especially when TimeTo’s thoughtful research has underlined that sexual harassment continues to be a huge ongoing issue.
If you want women to truly feel safe and respected at your festival, surely this would be the most important measure of all? This is soul-crushing complacency.
Closing the accountability gap
Too many of our industry leaders are complicit in turning away from this moment for meaningful change.
But if we genuinely want to leave the industry better than when we found it, we have to ensure it is actually accountable in the first place. Prioritising building your personal brand or agency profile over women’s ability to conduct their work safely and free from abuse is not leadership.
It is shameful that it needs to be said, but the responsibility for addressing sexual harassment should not be yet another burden to carry for the women who experienced it.
We owe so much to the women who are speaking up at huge personal cost. The women giving so much of themselves to tell the stories that so many in our industry have a huge commercial interest in burying.
Time’s up
But for the men and women who continue to say “time’s up” but don’t appear to own a watch, the clock is ticking on your faux-feminism and empty platitudes.
Maya Angelou once wrote: “When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time.”
As organisations and individuals, we must measure ourselves against standards that actually mean something. If you believe sexual harassment must end, then find even an ounce of the courage that these young students found.
True leadership is not what is said on conference stages. It is what happens when you think no-one is watching. Progressive leaders don’t adopt the language of Lean In while they continue to look away.
We see you — and the clock is ticking.
You can find out more about the work of TimeTo at www.TimeTo.org.uk. And if you or someone you know needs someone to talk to, contact Nabs at support@nabs.org.uk.
Nicola Kemp has spent over two decades writing about diversity, equality and inclusion in the media. She is now editorial director of Creativebrief. She writes for The Media Leader each month.
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