Books, Movies and #MeToo
Our January Badass Women’s Book Club book, She Said: Breaking the Sexual Harassment Story That Helped Ignite a Movement is a gripping story of the investigation of Harvey Weinstein as told by the two Pulitzer Prize-winning reporters who broke the news of his harassment and abuse. Last week’s opening of Weinstein’s trial (and the surrounding media coverage of it) have made this a timely read.
Beyond this book, there have been a number of other books released recently that address the larger issues of sexual harassment, abuse and the #MeToo movement.
Harvey Weinstein. Brett Kavanaugh. Jeffrey Epstein. Donald Trump. The most infamous abusers in modern American history are being outed as women speak up to publicly expose behavior that was previously only whispered about -- and it's both making an impact and sparking a backlash. From the leading, agenda-setting feminist editors of Yes Means Yes, Believe Me brings readers into the evolving landscape of the movement against sexual violence, and outlines how trusting women is the critical foundation for future progress.
Linda Hirshman, acclaimed historian of social movements, delivers the sweeping story of the struggle leading up to #MeToo and beyond: from the first tales of workplace harassment percolating to the surface in the 1970s, to the Clinton/Lewinsky scandal—when liberal women largely forgave Clinton, giving men a free pass for two decades. Many liberals even resisted the movement to end rape on campus. And yet, legal, political, and cultural efforts, often spearheaded by women of color, were quietly paving the way for the takedown of abusers and harassers. Reckoning delivers the stirring tale of a movement catching fire as pioneering women in the media exposed the Harvey Weinsteins of the world, women flooded the political landscape, and the walls of male privilege finally began to crack. This is revelatory, essential social history.
Chanel Miller, formerly known as Emily Doe, was the woman at the center of the Brock Turner trial. She’s revealing her identity and telling her story in this powerful memoir.
Author Mona Eltahway’s feminist manifesto urges women to embrace their power and smash the patriarchy by using “seven necessary sins” – being angry, ambitious, profane, violent, attention-seeking, lustful and powerful.
One of the essays in Tolentino’s collection looks at Rolling Stone magazine’s botched essay about a gang rape at the University of Virginia in 2014 and how that impacted the credibility of other survivors.
Rachael Denhollander’s voice was heard around the world when she spoke out to end the most shocking US gymnastics scandal in history. The first victim to publicly accuse Larry Nassar, the former USA Gymnastics team doctor who sexually abused hundreds of young athletes, Rachael now reveals her full story for the first time. How did Nassar get away with it for so long? How did Rachael and the other survivors finally stop him and bring him to justice? And how can we protect the vulnerable in our own families, churches, and communities?
This deeply personal and compelling narrative shines a spotlight on the physical and emotional impact of abuse, why so many survivors are reluctant to speak out, what it means to be believed, the extraordinary power of faith and forgiveness, and how we can learn to do what’s right in the moments that matter most.
Examination of these issues hasn’t been limited to books. Television shows and movies are focusing on the issues, too.
Bombshell, starring Charlize Theron, Nicole Kidman, and Margot Robbie, is based upon the accounts of several women at Fox News who set out to expose CEO Roger Ailes for sexual harassment. You can check out 10 Badass Moments from the movie here.
The Morning Show, the Apple TV show starring Jennifer Aniston, Steve Carrel and Reese Witherspoon, is about a television newsroom facing the messy reality of a host fired for sexual harassment. You can read more about it here.
“Was it worth it? Will it ever be?” This article by author, Rebecca Traister, dives into the toll the #MeToo movement has taken on those who bravely came forward.
What to do if you’re being sexually harassed? This guide from the New York times is full of helpful information.
As these books all remind us, women’s stories matter. Stay tuned for our February launch of the Badass Women’s Book Tour as we make space to share more books and stories by women authors.
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