This is why Mayim Bialik’s op-ed about Harvey Weinstein and sexual harassment missed the mark
As the Harvey Weinstein news continues to break, more celebrities are speaking up. On Friday, The Big Bang Theory actress Mayim Bialik wrote an op-ed about sexual harassment and feminism for The New York Times. Though she had the best of intentions, the piece quickly went viral for being reactionary and controversial.
In response to news about several sexual harassment and rape allegations against Weinstein, who was just voted out of the Academy, Bialik tried to connect her self-described “prominent-nosed, awkward, geeky” looks and the fact that she isn’t a “perfect ten” to the reason why she has had the privilege of not being a victim of sexual misconduct.
Girl…what?
Here’s what Bialik had to say.
"As a proud feminist with little desire to diet, get plastic surgery or hire a personal trainer, I have almost no personal experience with men asking me to meetings in their hotel rooms," she wrote. "Those of us in Hollywood who don't represent an impossible standard of beauty have the 'luxury' of being overlooked and, in many cases, ignored by men in power unless we can make them money."
Bialik went on to discuss the way she dresses and how her modest choices have basically acted as a forcefield to keep men away.
"I am entirely aware that these types of choices might feel oppressive to many young feminists. Women should be able to wear whatever they want. They should be able to flirt however they want with whomever they want. Why are we the ones who have to police our behavior?" she continued. "In a perfect world, women should be free to act however they want. But our world isn't perfect. Nothing—absolutely nothing—excuses men for assaulting or abusing women. But we can't be naïve about the culture we live in."
Readers took to Twitter to share their opinions.
A lot of people disagree with Bialik’s stance.
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And they spoke from a very personal place.
Treating sexual assault like it is a consequence of being attractive, or relating it to desire, is harmful & erases many victim experiences
— Abby Honold (@abbyhonold) October 14, 2017
Many shut down Bialik for victim-blaming.
https://twitter.com/udfredirect/status/919249797202227201
Some don’t think she understands what being a feminist really means.
You're not a feminist if you blame assault on how women look. Rape predates the Wonderbra @missmayim https://t.co/LuRIkfzoZE
— The Marthalorian (@marthaabigail_) October 14, 2017
Roxane Gay, actual feminist hero, offered her insightful take.
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Jenny Slate shared this important tweet.
🙏🙏🙏🙏✔️ https://t.co/jSVVzNb62R
— jenny slate (@jennyslate) October 14, 2017
And Gabrielle Union is not here for the notion that dressing modestly automatically negates sexual harassment.
Reminder. I got raped at work at a Payless shoe store. I had on a long tunic & leggings so miss me w/ "dress modestly" shit.
— Gabrielle Union (@itsgabrielleu) October 15, 2017
Late last night, Bialik addressed the backlash of her controversial op-ed.
Being told my @NYTimes piece resonated w/ so many. Also see some have taken my words out of the context of the Hollywood machine. See below: pic.twitter.com/0NmxtAF1vP
— Mayim Bialik (@missmayim) October 15, 2017
Bialik believes readers are taking her words out of context. She clarified that she would never “blame a woman for her assault based on her clothing or behavior.” And she announced that she’s doing a Facebook Live segment with the NYT tomorrow morning to talk it all out.
We can only hope the ongoing conversation encourages everyone to look deeper into themselves and find ways to push the real agenda of feminism: unity, justice, and equality.
