Timebandit: I agree in general that a multiplicity of methods is required for social change. But that general point doesn't address the specific concerns about civil lawsuits or TimesUp in particular, in that it is primarily a redress available only to the rich. It also puts the person bringing the person launching the suit in the postion to be countersued, and while rich Hollywood actors can outspend some smaller companies, that will not necessarily be the case with other employers or wealthy Harvey Weinstein wannabes. There is no guarantee the TimeUp funders are in it for the long haul, and real solutions shouldn't rely on the charity of the rich. To me that's more George Bush I/thousand points of light territory.
VOTD: Yes, great info in that NWCL statement. Is it curious to you why Hollywood has not touted the advantage of unionization for women? Has there been a positive portrayal of a union in a Hollywood movie since Norma Rae?
Pondering: I'm sad to say I don't agree with this characterization of what is happening at all:
All these movements are solidarity building and are impacting people's opinions on what is acceptable behavior towards women. It has empowered women and the court of public opinion has turned against men who are sexual predators regardless of whether or not they have broken a law or committed rape. Sexual coercion is being identified as hostile towards women. The "woman who sleeps her way to the top" meme is being replaced by a narrative illustrating that more often than not women are not sleeping their way to the top by choice but rather being required to offer sexual favors in return for what men get for free, career advancement.
Pondering, why do you think the Harvey Weinstein scandal broke when it did? It's been known for decades, literally decades, and they had witnesses and enough to publish on it in 2014.
I was responding to Meg, actually. And while I didn't say so explicitly I did indicate I agreed that the focus had gone a bit sideways - not because it was just links, but because it was turning into a parade of demons rather than an analysis of the systemic problem - that we all play into this. That was my feeling about it, anyway.
But I also said I didn't care whether it got removed (even though I would prefer that the focus stayed on feminist issues). Moving it out would not have been the same as a shutdown; it would just have been an indication that it had drifted.
Can we get back to the topic at hand now?
I don't think anyone's suggesting that posting just a link should not be permitted, ever. But neither should it become a lazy recurring feature here. I guess I expect to discuss things at babble, with other babblers. I have much less interest in responding to some blogger or to some news site that I could presumably find for myself.
Links are great for supporting an argument, or providing background or details that don't need to be repeated in a post. But if someone posts a link to something I'd generally like to see something to tell me what that link is, and maybe hear what they think of what's at that link. Are they posting it because they agree? Disagree? Have some questions? Why are they posting that link?
Well, sort of. But I think the first stuff to get weeded out in that curation isn't "the MSM stuff" so much as "anything that doesn't show agreement with me".
I honestly think what it comes down to is that one can post 10 blind links faster than one well-reasoned argument.
I don't think either applies. The pussycat protest was prompted by Trump's "grab em by the pussy" remark. There was nothing to demand. It was protest intended to call attention to Trump's attitude towards women. It worked. We have had raped and never reported, me too and now times up. All these movements are solidarity building and are impacting people's opinions on what is acceptable behavior towards women. It has empowered women and the court of public opinion has turned against men who are sexual predators regardless of whether or not they have broken a law or committed rape. Sexual coercion is being identified as hostile towards women. The "woman who sleeps her way to the top" meme is being replaced by a narrative illustrating that more often than not women are not sleeping their way to the top by choice but rather being required to offer sexual favors in return for what men get for free, career advancement.
In contrast Occupy began as a protest against Wall Street. There was an opportunity to focus on renewing the New Deal and on banking regulations and trade deals, on developing specific demands. Instead it just sort of died a slow death not that it can't be resurrected. It also put the topic of income inequality on the front page.
Mobo wrote:
I do think bottom up organizing within workplaces, through unions and collective bargaining is a great approach that has worked in the past to make workplaces more equal and free from harrassment. In Canada, the unions I have worked with or in, require the addition of a Health and Safety Committee, and an Anti-harrassment/nondiscrimination policy as necessary inclusions in any first collective agreement. Along with a grievance procedure to give them teeth. By pooling small amounts of money in a collective, workers can fund these methods themselves, and control them. Conversely, civil lawsuits require the charity of the rich, if one is not rich, and that is subject to their whims and attention, which is here today but may not be next year.
According to their wiki page, the Time's Up project is working in conjunction with the National Women's Law Center. This is the NWCL's statement on unions...
https://tinyurl.com/ycfdrucq