Those who broke their silence about sexual misconduct have been named TIME Magazine's Person of the Year. Amid revelations about Harvey Weinstein and other men, "the silence breakers" prompted millions to share their own stories. (Dec. 6) AP
My wife was wrong — and yet oh-so-right.
For weeks, she’d been predicting Anita Hill would be chosen as Time magazine’s Person of the Year.
From a literal standpoint, Mary Ann’s hunch proved incorrect. But in matters of symbolism, she nailed it.
On Wednesday, the publication named “#MeToo,” the movement against sexual harassment, as its 2017 recipient.
In making the televised announcement, editor-in-chief Edward Felsenthal called #MeToo “the fastest moving social change we’ve seen in decades. And it began by individual acts of courage by hundreds of women, and some men, too, who came forward to tell their stories of harassment and assault.”
#MeToo may have blossomed in recent months, but its seeds were sown more than a quarter-century ago by Hill.
“She was the first woman to stand up on a national stage and take all the slut-shaming for accusing Clarence Thomas of sexual harassment,” Mary Ann said. “She has never wavered in her story. She was the pioneer, like Rosa Parks refusing to give up her seat on the bus.”
Hill had worked for Thomas at the U.S. Department of Education and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. You may recall her testimony in 1991 before an all-male Senate committee debating Thomas’ nomination as justice on the U.S. Supreme Court. In explicit, no-nonsense words, she painted the picture of her former boss as an intimidating lecher.
And did she ever pay a price: the accuser became the accused.
Thomas claimed complete innocence. Not only did he discount Hill’s allegations, he called the entire exercise a “high-tech lynching.” Ultimately, Thomas was confirmed by the narrowest of margins. The case simmers to this day.
Fast-forward to 2017, when the list of men accused of sexual harassment seemingly expands by the hour.
Will this social-legal sea change in American society become permanent?
Good question.
Most of the names in this wide net of allegations are high-profile. They represent leaders in politics, news, entertainment and sports.
But what about the ones who aren’t celebrities, yet use their position to badger females under their supervision?
I daresay there are millions of everyday women all over this country — secretaries, teachers, clerks, engineers, laborers, nurses, cashiers and 10,001 other vocations — with similar stories who have suffered in silence.
Twenty-six years after Hill’s testimony, perhaps they’ll summon the strength to speak up.
And just as important, be taken seriously.
Sam Venable’s column appears Sunday and Tuesday. Contact him at sam.venable@outlook.com.