Sharing this reflection as I try to piece together what is happening with Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni.
From what was shared publicly, it sounds like he pushed what have been traditional Hollywood 'sexpectations' on her and she refused to cow to the pressure. So I get his claim that saying it was sexual harassment is categorically false.
But what was it then?
It wasn't personal sexual harassment in the sense that he wasn't sexualizing her for his own pleasure, but it was a sort of corporate harassment that has been tolerated by women and expected by men in the entertainment industry forever. He wanted her to be more sexual on camera, and she said no.
He did not respect her no.
Historically, if an actress wants the film to focus on character development rather than gratuitous sex and violence, if she wants the industry to take her and the characters she plays to be real, living, breathing women with feelings and comfort and discomfort levels on how much overt sexuality is shown on screen, they demonize her as hyper-religious and cancel her.
This appears to be what Justin was thinking. He wanted her to fall into the expected pattern and she refused. Maybe he's from a religious family (like Jane the Virgin) and feels he has escaped the strict rules of that culture.
But he doesn't have the right to force her into his beliefs.
So while I don't think he's a sexual predator, or should be painted as such, he is the product of what has become the norm in Hollywood culture.
Do you agree that women have the right to have a voice in how they and the characters they play are portrayed on screen, on how much of their own sexual selves and bodies they're willing to show?
I do.
And if this is true, we must support them when they speak up.
Just my opinion. TRIGGERING WARNING: SA/ SH When did the word woman become synonymous with scapegoat? As I see the news each day, I realiz
