‘Common dissent’ in Italy against sexual harassment, but not everyone is interested in this ‘vague’ form of feminism
Following on from the article published in the previous issue of La Civetta, which examined the reaction in the press to Asia Argento’s denunciation of Harvey Weinstein’s crimes, 124 women in Italy’s film industry have now signed a document denouncing sexual harassment, not just in the film industry, but across every workplace. This comes after Italian filmmaker Fausto Brizzi was accused by at least ten women of sexual harassment (mostly anonymously, and Brizzi has emphatically denied any non-consensual relationships). The document is titled ‘Dissenso Comune’ and aims to take down an ‘intero sistema,’ as opposed to singling out specific harassers. Argento, who has been one of Italy’s leading spokespeople in the continuing public discussion following the Weinstein case, is conspicuously missing from the list of women who have signed the manifesto.
One of the letter’s main aims is to emphasise that this form of sexual harassment – one that stems from power relations and seems so recurrent in the entertainment industry – is in fact prevalent across every profession. The visibility of these women, the letter states, is ‘la nostra cassa di risonanza.’ The letter goes on: ‘Le attrici hanno il merito e il dovere di farsi portavoce di questa battaglia per tutte quelle donne che vivono la medesima condizione sui posti di lavoro la cui parola non ha la stessa voce o forza.’ Recognising the power that their unique profession affords them, these women have used their platform to speak out on behalf of all women, against deeply ingrained patriarchal practices in the structures of the workplace; an important statement when the conversation has so far been mostly focused on actresses. The letter describes sexual harassment as a ‘fenomeno trasversale,’ one created by inequality in the workplace that makes ‘le donne, tutte le donne, a rischio di molestia poiché sottoposte sempre a un implicito ricatto. Succede alla segretaria, all’operaia, all’immigrata, alla studentessa, alla specializzanda, alla collaboratrice domestica. Succede a tutte.’ These are timely, significant words, following the example of the Time’s Up letter published a month before.
By: Ellie hill
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