Why now? Was it just by chance that the women spoke up all at once or was it Trump?

[Hamlette]

I think women were so shocked about how Hillary was treated and how Trump had 16 claims and still won.

That could have made women more timid since once again, no one believed or cared about the women. But then Weinstein which who perfect for the right to hate: funded Dems, was a Dem, worked in that evil Hollywood and is jewish so finally, one side was willing to believe the women and the damn broke? I think Cosby had something to do with it too. Took me awhile to believe the women but I admit I wasn't paying as much attention to it. I am hot and cold about Cosby.

It is an interesting phenom but I have a lot of anxiety about it. I think the charges against Franken are right wing BS so there is the danger that we might slip back into not believing women. (Duke). And I'm concerned about who will be destroyed by this. I suppose I shouldn't care if they were harassing but I have so few heroes left, don't take them all.

We are living in interesting times, as the old curse says.

[Swedish Alicia]

1. Why now you ask? Perhaps because your society has changed?

I have only been living in America for four years so my guess to your question comes from my reading of politics from American books. Not from personal experience.

Years ago when women accused former president Clinton of sexual misconduct those women were attacked and destroyed. This is written in your history.

When women accused candidate Trump of sexual misconduct they were believed. They were not personally attacked by American media. This is your present.

Women today see they can stand up and tell people their stories of harassment and the women know they will have Americans believe them. So this is what they do. As one, then two, then three women stand bravely and without unfair repercussion then more women notice and they stand too.

I suspect this is only the beginning.

[DFW]

3. Probably so.

The danger is that the Republicans are far better at the sleaze game than we are, and for every politician of theirs that is truly guilty of sexual harassment, they will look for one or more of ours and make him to be the same or worse when nothing is farther from the truth.

If you are really from Sweden, det här är tyvärr verkligen bara början.

[Hamlette]

4. We believed the women who accused Trump, they believed the women who accused Clinton

I agree the society is changing.

[treestar]

6. He did not abuse anyone

He was a cheater, but he never abused anyone.

[DFW]

2. Not Trump. Moore

The Republican primary for the empty Alabama Senate seat was won by Roy Moore, a particularly disgusting individual.

After many women came forward to tell of his aggressive advances on them as young teenagers, the Republicans started looking for a Democrat--ANY Democrat (the more popular, the better)--that they could point to as a distraction.

Trump never made any secret of his true nature. Moore, as a former prosecutor, was easily able to intimidate his victims into silence. This is an easy thing to do if you're a 32 year old DA, and the 14 year old victim thinks she's all alone in the world.

[Lurks Often]

7. It was a function of a number of things:

Allegations of sexual assault and sexual harassment have been around politics and Hollywood since forever, but with the 24/7 news cycle , the need to keep ratings and website hits up, social media in all of its forms, the credible allegations coming out of Hollywood and changes in American culture people are more likely to believe and disapprove of the allegations.

I expect it to get worse before it gets better and I expect more people from Hollywood to found out as well as more politicians from both sides.

[gollygee]

9. Women finally feel like they're being heard, so they've stopped keeping secrets

There is no conspiracy.

[MiniMe]

10. Probably Weinstein

I think that was what started all of this.