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Moral Maze

Moral Complicity

Moral Maze

BBC

Society & Culture, Religion & Spirituality

4.5609 Ratings

🗓️ 19 October 2017

⏱️ 43 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Following claims of rape or sexual harassment made by dozens of women against the movie mogul Harvey Weinstein, a picture emerges of one of the most powerful men in Hollywood exerting pressure on young actresses at the start of their careers, often in hotel rooms and offices. While the allegations of non-consensual sex are denied, the story has prompted a collective soul-searching in Tinseltown and beyond. How was Harvey Weinstein's behaviour tolerated, why did so few people speak out against him, and how many other Weinsteins are out there? Some say this is not an aberration, just a typical example of unrestrained male behaviour. They believe that many men would do the same sort of thing if they thought they could get away with it. For others, the problem has less to do with gender and is more about a general abuse of power. They argue that in showbiz - as in other sectors such as fashion and sport - there is not enough accountability, and there needs to be stricter mechanisms to deal with bullying at work. Central to both those interpretations of the problem is the concept of moral complicity. To what extent are those who tolerate a crime also responsible for it? Do we all have a moral duty to speak out about unacceptable behaviour, even if that comes at huge personal cost? Or are we too quick to label those who knew, and did nothing, as 'hypocrites'? Should we do more to encourage and support the reporting of suspicions? Or is there a danger of creating a society of greater division and mistrust? Witnesses are Ella Whelan, Laura Bates, Prof Josh Cohen and Corinne Sweet.

Producer: Dan Tierney.

Transcript

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0:00.0

You're listening to a program from BBC Radio 4.

0:03.7

Good evening. Hollywood itself would have been hard put to have dreamt up a cinema villain

0:08.2

who would become as swiftly and universally detested as Harvey Weinstein.

0:12.9

Appearances don't help. He looks straight out of central castings filing cabinet of bad guys.

0:17.9

His victims, alleged or acknowledged, seem to include most of the beauties of the age.

0:22.7

But it's the actions that matter, a decades-long pattern of a powerful film mogul,

0:27.3

pressurizing aspirant actresses for sex, blatant, boorish and bass.

0:32.3

Everybody knew, it seems, nobody said.

0:35.5

Is this about masculinity or power?

0:38.0

He did what he did because he could.

0:39.6

His position seemed to put him beyond the normal restraints.

0:42.8

Many, maybe most men, might do the same given the opportunity.

0:46.5

Or is this wider than sex, a more generalised abuse of power which can release the bully in all of us?

0:52.5

Central to both is the question of moral complicity.

0:55.3

All those people who knew but didn't speak out, only now joining in the chorus of condemnation.

1:01.6

There would have been, no doubt, a huge personal cost, but to what extent are those who tolerate

1:06.4

unacceptable behaviour in some way responsible for it?

1:10.4

Should we encourage people to report what they know or suspect?

1:14.2

Or would that turn us into witch hunters where everyone is emboldened to spy on and denounce everyone else?

1:20.5

That's our moral maze tonight.

1:21.8

Our panel, Melanie Phillips, social commentator on the Times,

1:24.6

the former Conservative Cabinet Minister Michael Portillo,

...

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