As always, a thought-provoking piece by Yasmin Nair:
Gender, in other words, remains part of a firmament of power and the larger conversation about sexual abuse has done little to question the larger structures that make abuse possible, in different and complicated ways, all of which need to be expanded on and will be, in later pieces here.
For now, I will simply state that all of the above has resulted in a general sense of shock and bewilderment (and, undoubtedly in some quarters, elation) about recent accusations of sexual abuse where women are the alleged perpetrators. One is, in her circle, a famed feminist theorist and queer, Avital Ronell, and the other is someone continuously referred to as a “leader in the #MeToo movement,” Asia Argento. Both face accusations of abuse from younger men with whom they had been in positions of power, each functioning as mentors to accusers. Both have denied the charges, and their denials — and the support of their various tribes — have incurred much criticism for replicating the vicious victim-blaming tactics employed by men like Harvey Weinstein (Argento’s abuser who is also accused by several other women).
Responses to the cases have been varied and reveal much about the generally contentious nature of sex and gender today. I’ll be writing a separate piece on Ronell but for now I want to focus on the different ways in which commenters and others have sought to explain away the two women’s alleged actions. In The Atlantic, Hannah Giorgis writes, “The sharpest #MeToo movement leaders have long named power—rather than gender— as the primary factor enabling abuse.” Well, yes, but naming power isn’t really enough if the primary aim is to simply shift power around, and #MeToo’s supporters and “leaders” haven’t really done all that much to change that conversation. More here.