I am not usually one for perpetuating trendy hashtags. It may have something to do with my disdain for conformity. More likely it is a lasting resentment for the amount of time I spent in the early days of MySpace reposting chain letters to ensure I didn't end up an old spinster or dead by the hands of Bloody Mary. (She and I have since become brunch buddies)
Regardless, there is something different about #MeToo.
In the wake of the Harvey Weinstein scandal actress, Alyssa Milano posted a tweet empowering women to write 'me too' if they had experienced sexual harassment or assault in order to provide the issue a sense of scale. The social response was a resounding hell yes this is an issue and women deal with it every damn day.
#MeToo created an opportunity for women to show solidarity but also to voice their personal stories about sexual harassment and assault. The speed in which messaging moves through social media outlets, in turn, created a powerful platform to demonstrate the scale of this problem, across industries, countries, cultures, and communities. While this visual illustration of the sheer number of sexual harassment and assault victims was enlightening for some, I wish I could say I was surprised by the plethora of posts I saw across my social media streams. Or say I was shocked by the statuses my friends shared about their experiences. To be honest, my response to this movement, like so many other women, was more along the lines of, "who hasn't?". It has happened on a packed train in a foreign country, on an empty street at home, on my phone, online, on my birthday, just yesterday, and so on.
Sexual harassment is not just physical or verbal, it is institutional. Which is how an established man working in a patriarchal industry could get away with it for so long. As a woman who strives to break into an industry whose major leadership is dominated by established men, this concerns me. Not only are women underrepresented in leadership roles in the arts, and as exhibiting artists in general, they are also making about 81 cents for every dollar made by a male. According to a study just released by the Association of Art Museum Directors. “The Ongoing Gender Gap in Art Museum Directorships” shows that just one of the nation’s 13 largest museums is run by a woman. This stands in stark contrast to the fact that over half of those graduating from art-centric programs are women.
Now I am not saying women are being sexually harassed out of the building, or that sexual harassment or assault is the cause of the gender gap in the leadership of the art industry. I am, however, concerned about the implications that come with reserving the highest positions just for men. The fact a line has been drawn that says 'no women beyond this point' creates a power structure that breeds a dangerous sense entitlement.
But fear not bad ass ladies of the art world, for our time has come! With the untimely departure of Metropolitan Museum of Art Director, Thomas P. Campbell the top job at the largest art museum in the country is ours for the taking. In its nearly 150 years of existence, The Met has never had a female director, and in its current state of duress, maybe it is time. For in the words of Georgia O'Keeffe, "You get whatever accomplishment you are willing to declare."
