Why Now?

Hidden Brain

Hidden Brain Media

Social Sciences, Performing Arts, Science, Arts

4.6 • 42.5K Ratings

🗓️ 24 September 2018

⏱️ 49 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Nearly a quarter century ago, a group of women accused a prominent playwright of sexual misconduct. For the most part, the allegations went nowhere. In 2017, in the midst of the #MeToo movement, more women came forward to accuse the same playwright of misconduct. This time, everyone listened. On this episode — originally broadcast in February 2018 — we explore the story through the lens of social science research and ask, "Why Now?" What has changed in our minds and in our culture so that allegations of sexual harassment and assault are being taken more seriously than they were in the past? A note: This story includes descriptions of sexual harassment and assault. It may not be suitable for all listeners.

Transcript

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0:00.0	This is Hidden Brain. I'm Shankar Vedantam.
0:02.8	A warning before we start today's show.
0:04.9	This episode includes accounts of sexual assault
0:07.3	and may not be suitable for all listeners.
0:11.8	In 2016, Maya Armanson sat down at her laptop to write a Facebook post.
0:17.6	It was about a famous playwright, Israel Horowitz.
0:24.7	She accused him of serious sexual misconduct.
0:34.3	He put this anger in me that I didn't have before, and that wasn't going away. And I couldn't let it rest.
0:38.9	Within months, other women stepped forward with similar stories.
0:41.5	But yeah, no, he just locked the door and then... Nobody was there and it was not.
0:42.7	And then he just...
0:44.8	I never thought it would go this far.
0:46.6	I went to the managing director and said I was quitting.
0:49.9	The theater world was quick to censure the playwright.
0:53.1	Several companies dropped productions of his plays.
0:55.0	He quickly resigned from the board of the theater company that he'd founded.
1:00.0	Israel Horowitz was disgraced.
1:02.0	His career in tatters.
1:05.0	But here's the twist.
1:07.0	24 years earlier, another group of women had made nearly identical accusations.
1:12.9	And nothing happened.
1:16.8	This week on Hidden Brain, we ask, why now?
	...

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