Posted on 10/19/2017 12:13:39 PM PDT by drewh
Actress Mayim Bialik has responded to criticism after she wrote a New York Times essay over the Harvey Weinstein scandal.
Bialik wrote of the pressure to appear attractive that she felt as a teen actress, affecting her self-esteem to this day. She added that when she returned to acting after earning a doctorate in neuroscience, she “experienced the upside of not being a ‘perfect 10.’… Those of us in Hollywood who don’t represent an impossible standard of beauty have the ‘luxury’ of being overlooked and, in many cases, ignored by men in power unless we can make them money.”
Bialik, who has been open about her embrace of Orthodox Judaism, explained that in order to protect herself, she has chosen to dress modestly and avoid flirting with men.
“In a perfect world, women should be free to act however they want,” she wrote. “But our world isn’t perfect. Nothing — absolutely nothing — excuses men for assaulting or abusing women. But we can’t be naive about the culture we live in.”
Backlash to the op-ed was swift.
Writer and journalist Ijeoma Oluo called the piece “gross victim-blaming misogyny disguised as feminism.”
Guardian columnist Jessica Valenti wrote, “Being an awkward girl with a big nose never protected me from harassment.”
And fellow actress Patricia Arquette tweeted directly at Bialik, writing, “It is not outrageous for anyone to be expected to be treated in a professional [manner] by anyone in a professional relationship.”
In response, Bialik tweeted Sunday that “ Anyone who knows me knows that’s absurd and not at all what this piece was about. It’s so sad how vicious people are being when I basically live to make things better for women.”
Bialik will appear in a Facebook Live broadcast with the Times on Monday to discuss her piece.
(Excerpt) Read more at forward.com ...
The Talmud relates that a Jew is known by three characteristics: modesty, mercy, and benevolence, and that one without those characteristics should have their Jewishness questioned.
just a hunch but Ms Bialik is probably a not as liberal as she thinks..this experience is going to be very telling for her
Orthodox Jews don’t tend to be very liberal.
Her Wikipedia page says that her Cobra was running out and she was looking into SAG for insurance for her and her two children.
Also, she finalized a divorce in 2013. Reports say that she got their 1,400 sq. ft. one bedroom apartment in Studio City, while her husband got their 1,400 sq. ft. 3 bedroom house in Sherman Oaks. So it seems that they were living modestly to begin with, given that this was southern California. I used to live in a 3 bedroom 1,250 sq. ft. condo in northern California, so I know she wasn't living the high life of a Hollywood star.
-PJ
the older she gets the more conservatively she will protect that 12 million...:)
Plain? Not in that pic.
I’ve read that about her. I can’t figure out how someone can be an orthodox jew and be a democrat. Democrats hate jews almost as much as mulisms do.
We’ve been watching this actress for 30 years now, and I don’t ever remember thinking, that girl needs to try to look more pretty.
Hollywood routinely chooses real-world pretty girls to play homely ones. Anna Kendrick in The Accountant.
Possibly true in Israel, but necessarily true in the USA.
Within the last decade, Commentary Magazine published a demographic analysis of Orthodox Jews in metro New York City.
Two items have stuck in my mind...
New York Orthodox Jews use government welfare at a rate that is twice as high as comparable white neighborhoods.
And, 60% of New York Orthodox Jews voted for Obama in 2008 (about 80% of non-Orthodox Jews voted for Obama).
Good response there.
I think Bialik’s point is that people should dress and behave in such a way that doesnt put them in danger. That is just common sense which is why the Hollywood nitwits are so outraged. They think they can do whatever irresponsible thing they want without consequence. Should I be able to walk in any neighborhood I want flashing a wad of $100 bills? Sure, but it would be stupid and I would be partly responsible when the expected happened.
Dressing sexy isn't going to help her get any roles in her case.... she is doing EXACTLY what is required of her :)
“If you want to act, why put yourself through the hell of a doctorate in a hard science?”
I knew a guy who earned a Ph.D. in Microbiology and quit right after graduating to become a “land man” in Louisiana. His rationale was he would rather earn a little money doing something he enjoyed than a lot of money doing something he hated.
Only the nose knows.
Try deviating from the right wing orthodoxy here. The responses can be just as chippy.
The days of respectful disagreement and loyal opposition are dead and gone. “Is you is, or is you ain’t” to the coin of the realm.
You realize that’s the “act” right? That is not the person.
And you cannot be suggesting that women ever deserve to be groped, grabbed or raped. No man is ever that out of control. If you believe they can be...you’ve been conned.
“...the only thing keeping her from true bliss is probably something I did.”
Sounds like both of you found a good mate.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.