'Nowhere is safe.' This is what I messaged some friends, along with the link to a news report about Paris Review editor Loris Stein resigning due to allegations of sexual misconduct. I sent it these friends because we had recently talked about an article called 'What do we do with the art of monstrous men?' about the conflict of consuming media from known sex offenders. The piece was published in the Paris Review.
In the wake of recent events in Hollywood, the results of recent surveys concerning sexual assault and harassment in the Australian arts have been appalling. A Books+Publishing survey found that of the 214 respondents to the survey who worked in the publishing industry, roughly half reported harassment, and according to MEAA Actors Equity between one in seven people working in the theatre industry have been sexually assaulted. These levels of harassment also seem to be similarly prevalent in the Australian film, television and music industries.
This post-Weinstein domino effect feels like a reckoning of the creative industries, but in the increased wave of awareness, many are asking how we can possibly change the entrenched culture of harassment and discrimination.
We shouldn't forget that the creative industries are not the only ones that have recently faced scrutiny. In Australia, you don't have to look far into the past to see sexual harassment in the workplace is widespread. In the last few years there has been media focus on the Australian Defence Force, universities and the start-up tech industry — among others — and all have had recent complaints or investigations into incidents of rape and sexual harassment.
What can the Australian arts scene learn from their respective responses? After the ARHC Change the Course survey, Universities Australia put out a ten point action plan, which included training for staff and students and the development of a best practice guideline, 'On Safe Ground'. RMIT instituted a restorative justice program, while Monash University has created the Safer Community Unit and the Respect.Now.Always app, which directs students to support services.
The ADF's Defence Abuse Response Taskforce did address many cases and provide renumeration. But it also expired in 2016, leaving many victims who were late to report or unaware that it even existed unable to seek financial compensation that they needed. And despite statements from industry leaders, tech companies are still yet to take major steps in addressing reports on sexual misconduct.
Obviously, the needs for each