“Big Bang Theory” star Mayim Bialik has fired back at critics after an op-ed she wrote on Harvey Weinstein caused some feminists to accuse her of victim blaming.
“I’m being told my N.Y. Times piece resonated with so many and I am beyond grateful for all of the feedback,” she wrote in a tweet on Sunday, “I also see a bunch of people have taken my words out of the context of the Hollywood machine and twisted them to imply that God forbid I would blame a woman for her assault based on her clothing or behavior. Anyone who knows me and my feminism 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.”
The debate blossomed after Bialik wrote a piece for the New York Times on Friday in which she described why, she believes, she has not been sexually harassed in Hollywood.
“I always made conservative choices as a young actress, largely informed by my first-generation American parents who were highly skeptical of this industry in general,” she said. “My mom didn’t let me wear makeup or get manicures. She encouraged me to be myself in audition rooms.”
“I have decided that my sexual self is best reserved for private situations with those I am most intimate with. I dress modestly. I don’t act flirtatiously with men as a policy,” she added.
Those words sparked outrage from feminists on social media, with many calling her out for what they perceived as shaming women who dress sexy.
The backlash continued over the weekend with new voices, like model and actress Emily Ratajkowski, hammering the star.
“So @missmayim ‘advice’ is: I was never pretty & never tried to be & ladies, take note if you don’t want to be harassed? This isn’t feminism,” she tweeted.
So @missmayim “advice” is: I was never pretty & never tried to be & ladies, take note if you don’t want to be harassed? This isn’t feminism pic.twitter.com/0Rrx6jrE5K
— Emily Ratajkowski (@emrata) October 15, 2017
“Victim blaming at its finest,” the 26-year-old wrote in another tweet.
VIctim blaming at its finest @missmmayim https://t.co/8DWw6BgRRl
— Emily Ratajkowski (@emrata) October 15, 2017
But those who are now shaming Bialik for speaking her mind might have missed the point she was making when she also wrote that “Women should be able to wear whatever they want. They should be able to flirt however they want with whomever they want. Why are we the ones who have to police our behavior?
“In a perfect world, women should be free to act however they want. But our world isn’t perfect. Nothing — absolutely nothing — excuses men for assaulting or abusing women. But we can’t be naïve about the culture we live in.”
It didn’t seem to matter as the bash Bialik train had left the station and it seemed everyone was getting on board.
Mayim Bialik’s piece is part of the problem w/ the myth of journalistic objectivity, which suggests even dangerous opinions deserve platform
— Jamilah Lemieux (@JamilahLemieux) October 15, 2017
It’s true. Why have a First Amendment?
.@missmayim Its hard to fathom that as an educated woman you don’t understand that women can be both physically attractive and intelligent.
— Heather Whaley (@HeatherWhaley) October 15, 2017
Respectfully, this doesn’t work. I cover my entire body+hair+ get harassed. Have friends in niqab who get harassed. https://t.co/5F6Wwd7eaN
— G. Willow Wilson (@GWillowWilson) October 15, 2017
So, here is my hot take on Mayim Bialik: it is disingenuous AF to write about modesty without acknowledging religious roots of that choice.
— Kate Harding (@KateHarding) October 15, 2017
She literally wrote that she was Jewish in the first sentence of the op-ed.
Others sided with Bialik and thought her piece was spot on.
This right here is what real female empowerment sounds like. Great, great piece by @missmayim https://t.co/ANFWvPgcK7
— Allie Stuckey (@conservmillen) October 15, 2017
I didn’t get victim blaming from that article. Maybe I skipped that paragraph?
— Dan Hoffman (@dhoff24250) October 15, 2017
It’s odd that people consider this “victim blaming.” It’s also not wise to walk through a dark alley waving $$$ around, right? Wisdom=power
— TheThoughtMine (@TheThoughtMine) October 15, 2017
Great read, best line…”I have decided that my sexual self is best reserved for private situations with those I am most intimate with.”
— danielpmarsh (@danielpmarsh) October 15, 2017
Wake up right! Receive our free morning news blast HERE
DONATE TO BIZPAC REVIEW
Please help us! If you are fed up with letting radical big tech execs, phony fact-checkers, tyrannical liberals and a lying mainstream media have unprecedented power over your news please consider making a donation to BPR to help us fight them. Now is the time. Truth has never been more critical!
- Britney Spears shows off her rockin’ new bod, but had to spoil it with a liberal message about ‘Dreamers’ - December 24, 2017
- Border patrol forget they’re supposed to be heartless, deliver beautiful baby at the border - December 24, 2017
- After scoring tax cut victory, Trump sees ‘tremendous Democrat support’ for his next big initiative - December 24, 2017
Comment
We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.
BPR INSIDER COMMENTS
Scroll down for non-member comments or join our insider conversations by becoming a member. We'd love to have you!