It seems like everyone and their mother is talking about sexual assault and harassment in the celebrity world recently - Harvey Weinstein accused of harassment by over 60 women, Kevin Spacey fired from House of Cards after a reported assault in 1986, Louis C.K. admitting to making women watch him masturbate into a pot plant... the list goes on and on. All of the celebrity scandals inspired a #MeToo movement, where people flocked to Twitter to tell their own 140 character story. Although the public fallout following the Hollywood scandals has been immense, people seem to be focusing on shaming big-name celebrities and forgetting about the every-day events in the lives of you and I.
This article, published today by the BBC, gives a member of the general public a voice to speak out about her experiences with sexual harassment. Martha Hammock, the only female chef at a Derbyshire Premier Inn, claims she was made uncomfortable by messages sent by a co-worker, including asking her opinion of a 'penis-shaped bottle'. As with countless victims of Hollywood, Hammock came forward and complained to head office about the behaviour. However, instead of the news coverage and public support the former receives, Hammock says that the company suspended her the day after reporting the events. A letter she received gave work-related reasons for her suspension, and a spokesperson insists that an investigation is ongoing, and that her suspension on full pay is in no way related to her complaint.
Although both sides of the story are given, it is obvious that the reporter is on Hammock's team regarding the incident. The article uses several emotive quotes, reinforcing Hammock's consequent discomfort and suffering - "it feels like I am dying" is a particularly powerful statement that drives the severity of the situation home to the audience. I'd like to believe that the reporter wholeheartedly believes the victim's account of events, but perhaps due to the BBC's own history of sexual harassment, rape, pedophilia and necrophilia accusations their staff have been warned to keep their noses clean.
The fact that sexual assault exists at all is disgusting, and the numerous named perpetrators in Hollywood (should the accusations against them be proved true) deserve everything they get as far as I'm concerned. Celebrities are role models for many people, and notable people committing these obscene acts paves the way for their followers to do the same. I'm sick to death of reading the words 'sexual harassment' in the news, but I know it's necessary to call these people out, to keep impressionable people in the public for citing them as their influences into their own vile behaviour.
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