Harvey Weinstein's Lawyer On Sexual Assault? "I Would Never put Myself In That Situation"

via nytimes

The New York Times’ uploaded a new episode for their podcast The Daily, and the last 10 minutes were TRULY. WILD. Hosted by Megan Twohey (one of the publication’s investigative reporters who broke the Weinstein story), this episode featured Harey Weinstein’s female lawyer Donna Rotunno. After 20 minutes of honestly, some pretty valid pointers from Rotunno  (such as social media culture determining one’s fate before the law),–– it was Rotunno’s last comment that took this interview to another level.

When asked “if she had ever been sexually assaulted?” Rotunno responded:

“I have not...” [long pause] “...because I would never put myself in that situation.”

My jaw dropped to the floor, as I can imagine Twohey and many listeners jaws did as well. Twohey's shock was verbally noticeable as she asked Rotunno to elaborate on her statement.

Rotunno proceeded to defend her statement and warn women about their need to “minimize their risk.” To Rotunno this included being aware about whom women surround themselves with, the environments women could find themselves in, and the protection women should carry (such as mace) . When Twohey drew attention to Rotunno’s lack of responsibility for men, placing the “burden of safety on women,” Rotunno responded that men, too, need to be safe. Their safety comes in the form of a consensual sex contract signed by both parties. That’s it.

Rotunno does not elaborate about the need for men to physically restrain themselves, or to take therapeutic, mental and emotional accountability for behavior they may project. She does not caution men to keep their hands to themselves, not to catcall, not to stalk, or to take “no” as an answer.

Throughout Rotunno’s interview she advocated for equal responsibility between the sexes, however she failed to realize that while she preached for equal responsibility, she ignored that women cannot live as equally as men. In fact, her stance that women are the only determining factor when it comes to their safety is proof of that, and a subconscious result of rape culture.

By definition, rape culture is “a subset of values, beliefs, and behaviors in a society that trivializes or normalizes sexual violence, including rape.” Sure, women can take precautions of who they date, where they go, what they wear, what time they come home, etc. But if we never get to the core issue, which is that we live in a society that feeds toxic masculinity at the expense of women, because women are seen as property for the enjoyment of men whenever and however they please, THIS. WILL. CONTINUE.