Big Bang Theory's Mayim Bialik Publishes Irresponsible Essay on Sexism in Hollywood

[demmiblue]

Source: Newsweek

Big Bang Theory actress Mayim Bialik published an Op-Ed in The New York Times on Friday in response to the news of producer Harvey Weinstein's uncovered history of alleged sexual assault and harassment. Her essay, titled "Being a Feminist in Harvey Weinstein’s World", has been lambasted by critics on the internet, many of whom believe she passive-aggressively blames Weinstein's victims for what happened to them. In a single essay, she manages to victim blame, congratulate herself for her own "modesty," describe attractive women in myriad mean-spirited ways, plug The Big Bang Theory, and vastly misunderstand rape culture.

She has since responded to horrified critics by claiming they misunderstand her point, saying she's surprised at how "vicious" people have been. Ironically, there's not much more vicious than Bialik's takedown of Weinstein's victims—she's clearly disgusted with certain practices in Hollywood, including manicures, wearing make-up, getting elective plastic surgery, flirting, and she believes that avoiding all of these things can protect one from a man like Weinstein.

While many women in Hollywood have raised their voices in support of Weinstein's many victims, Bialik chose to write a strange and misguided essay about her own experiences as a "prominent-nosed, awkward, geeky" actress. She says Weinstein's actions don't surprise her, citing the poisonous pressure in Hollywood to objectify women, but then she follows a bizarre tangent, confessing she never felt "like one of the pretty girls". When she arrives at her inevitable conclusion, she damns every one of Weinstein's victims with an off-color joke. "And if—like me—you’re not a perfect 10, know that there are people out there who will find you stunning, irresistible and worthy of attention, respect and love," she condescends to other actresses. "The best part is you don’t have to go to a hotel room or a casting couch to find them."

Bialik's implication here is that Gwenyth Paltrow, Rose McGowan, Ashley Judd, and Angelina Jolie went to Weinstein's hotel room because they were searching for validation and had some character flaw that she just doesn't have. By going on and on about how she never wears revealing clothing, Bialik generalizes about all of Weinstein's victims, suggesting that they would have been safe from sexual assault if only they had fought harder against Hollywood's image of a perfect woman. Let's not forget that Bialik has a history of publicizing her discomfort with other women's beauty; in 2014, she wrote a blog post decrying Ariana Grande's public image. "If she has a talent (is she a singer?)," Bialik writes, "then why does she have to sell herself in lingerie?" For the record, these are the billboards that so deeply disturbed Bialik.

Read more: http://www.newsweek.com/mayim-bialik-slut-shaming-nyt-essay-big-bang-theory-feminism-harvey-weinstein-685466?utm_campaign=NewsweekTwitter&utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=Social

[JI7]

1. 2 different issues. Sexual Abuse is not just hollywood, it happens in the fucking military

where i doubt many people are concerned about their physical appearance much of the time.

[Nitram]

5. That's right, J17, it is a problem endemic to our culture. Hollywood is just the most visible

culprit. It happens in business, education, science, politics - virtually everywhere that men have a stranglehold on power.

[murielm99]

2. I used to be dismissive of

Ariana Grande. She is not my type of singer. I regarded her as a pop tart.

She does have a long history as an entertainer and she has great appeal for young girls. After her positive and professional reaction to the Manchester bombing, I have gained respect for her. It does not matter that her music is not to my taste.

I feel sorry for Bialik. She does not seem very comfortable with herself.

[Orrex]

7. I felt (and now feel) much the same way about Ms. Grande

I don't know any of her songs, because I'm way outside of the target demographic, but she handled herself with remarkable grace and courage following the bombing--a strong role model for her fans.

[BlueStater]

3. Newsweek is really in no position to talk when it comes to misunderstanding "rape culture".

For a reason I can't even possibly begin to fathom, they thought a child molester's opinion on our government was worth publishing.

https://www.salon.com/2017/10/13/newsweek-asked-a-sex-offender-whats-wrong-with-congress-and-heres-what-he-said/

[underpants]

4. Tonight....on a very special Blossom....

We find out that her anti-vax BS was a signal of being a whackadoodle not a pet cause.

[Paladin]

6. I would have expected better from Ms. Bialik. Disappointing. (nt)

[IronLionZion]

8. The original piece: Mayim Bialik: Being a Feminist in Harvey Weinsteins World

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/13/opinion/mayim-bialik-feminist-harvey-weinstein.html

There are some good points mixed in for those who want to read the whole thing with context. She probably means well.

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.

I believe that we can change our culture, but it won’t be something that happens overnight. We live in a society that has treated women as disposable playmates for far longer than Mr. Weinstein has been meeting ingénues in luxury hotel rooms.

One major bright spot: We are seeing more women taking on prominent roles behind the camera. Women like Jenji Kohan and Jill Soloway are showing the kinds of female characters on their shows that we all know in real life but never got to see on TV. And more women and men are waking up to the fact that it is on us all to sound the alarm on unacceptable behavior.

In the meantime, I plan to continue to work hard to encourage young women to cultivate the parts of themselves that may not garner them money and fame. If you are beautiful and sexy, terrific. But having others celebrate your physical beauty is not the way to lead a meaningful life.

And if — like me — you’re not a perfect 10, know that there are people out there who will find you stunning, irresistible and worthy of attention, respect and love. The best part is you don’t have to go to a hotel room or a casting couch to find them.