New study shows 94% of Hollywood women sexually harassed

A new study has shown the extent of sexual harassment and assault facing women working in the Hollywood entertainment business.

94% of 843 women surveyed has a #MeToo story, subjected to some type of harassment or abuse by an older individual in a position of power.

The online survey, published in USA Today, was conducted December 14 to January 14 by the National Sexual Violence Resource Center with The Creative Coalition and Women in Film and Television.

Unwanted behaviour ranged from sexual comments and gestures (87%), groping (69%), being propositioned for a sexual act or relationship in the workplace (64%) shown sexually explicit images (39%) or being flashed (29%).

21% had been forced to perform a sexual act.

At auditions 10% were without advance warning asked to disrobe or have sex.

Only 22% of the women had complained to higher authority, fearful for their careers or, as in the case of one third, weren’t sure if what happened to them constituted harassment or assault.

Of those who took action, only 28% found that the situation improved.

65% witnessed colleagues advancing in the workplace because they were in a sexual relationship with a high executive.

The perpetrators were “male, older and for the most part more powerful than their accusers.”

Most were directors, agents and producers (29%), as well as peers or colleagues (24%) or supervisors and senior managers (20%).

The report notes that because those surveyed were self-selected, the figures might not be “scientifically representative” of the entire entertainment industry.

Nevertheless the findings are “credible and important,” Anita Raj, director of the Center for Gender Equity and Health at the University of California, San Diego, medical school, told USA Today.

“The percentages are higher than what we typically see for workplace abuses, but we know there is variation by the type of workplace,” Raj said.

“But it makes sense to me that we would see higher numbers” in the entertainment industry.