She Said, #MeToo: From Exposé To Empowerment, How Weinstein’s Downfall Ignited A Global Movement

year 2017 opened floodgates for assuredly a chapter in history that will live on for centuries to come. Two women - New York Times journalists Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey spearheed charge. However, veracity and final impact of ir tireless work, would have been impossible without platoon of women who chose to come forward and relive some of ir most vulnerable moments. Harvey Weinstein, thanks to his undeniable status as a (former) movie mogul, has both enjoyed and periled in harsh spotlight of public eye. Weinstein however, is not focal point of Me Too movement or, by proxy, She Said - both book and movie. Women are.

Is it a man's world?

Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey have recounted ir journey, breaking one of biggest stories of dece, in ir co-authored book, She Said: Breaking Sexual Harassment Story That Helped Ignite a Movement. duo were also heavily involved in how film aptation of same, also titled She Said, shaped up. Described as "an instant classic of investigative journalism" by Washington Post, Kantor and Twohey's trailblazing drive not only sparked Me Too movement but bird rapid change in conversations, legality and overall accountability surrounding plight of women, specifically in professional setups, but also beyond. 

It is honestly easier, to reduce sum impact of Kantor and Twohey's journalistic brilliance to list of women it pushed to speak out. However, what y have achieved must be interpreted in terms of a larger dialogue on women reclaiming ir power in a world intrinsically and systemically dominated by patriarchy. From top-ranking actresses to alienated company workers - race, background, bank balance and all or differentiating factors stood blurred in face of two experiences that united m. One, abuse. Two, speaking up.

Harvey Weinstein now carries one less count of rape - not as starting domino of ro to vindication, but as tragic result of a legal technicality. global sisterhood that Kantor and Twohey's piece gave way to however, has ensured that his mammoth cinematic legacy, always stands tarred by his raucous and unabashed misconduct.

Are we passing our turmoil on?

A very significant moment in film is when Carey Mulligan's Twohey jumps into a rhetorical reflection of wher never-ending accounts of suffering and fear is something women tend to pass on in womb. moment very subtly captures unavoidable weight of being a woman in world, and helplessness of saving next generation from same fate. 

Anor potent moment from movie, carries answer to above posed rhetoric. A pensive Ashley Judd (played by actress herself) tells a shaking Jodi about wanting to be attributed in ir article, on account of being a woman, and a Christian. This choice was also me by former Weinstein Company employee Laura Mden, who choses to be named because she does not want to let her daughters think, abuse is normal.

Women n, maybe do pass turmoil on. However, what film, book and more than that watershed period that inspired m tell us, is that women supporting women may just put an end to what for now, appears to be an unavoidable reality.

Speaking up

Women banding toger to achieve something bigger than mselves may sound like a preachy arrangement of words. most empowering thing n, about what Kantor and Twohey achieved with ir trailblazing New York Times piece, is that it is not fiction. It makes for a very real chapter in contemporary global history. Yes, this chapter is about abuse and powerplay - but what screams louder is voice of women world over, echoing a relief-ridden sense of empowerment.

It entails very real experience of at least 80-plus women who eventually came forward with ir own stories, not to mention literal infinite accounts of pain, prolonged silence and resilience that followed, seeing light of day and hopefully, justice.