I don’t remember the Anita Hill hearings (I was 1), but I’ve seen the movies/documentaries and read the book.
I know a lot of people are in deep despair right now but I think that Dr. Christine Blasey Ford is another step towards progress. Still too slow. Thread:
I know a lot of people are in deep despair right now but I think that Dr. Christine Blasey Ford is another step towards progress. Still too slow. Thread:
1. I’ll say at the outset that I think it very much matters that Dr. Christine Blasey Ford is white. If this were a Black woman and a Black nominee, the dynamics and culture would be different.
2. Dr. Blasey Ford felt comfortable coming forward. She reached out to her Senator (a woman!) with this information. She thought it might matter.
Professor Hill answered questions by the FBI during a background check and did so reluctantly. She knew she wouldn’t be believed.
Professor Hill answered questions by the FBI during a background check and did so reluctantly. She knew she wouldn’t be believed.
3. Dr. Blasey Ford has not had her past sexual behavior publicly aired or dug into.
Professor Hill was famously called “a little bit nutty and a little bit slutty”.
Professor Hill was famously called “a little bit nutty and a little bit slutty”.
4. Dr. Blasey Ford has not had her mental health called into question. Her motives and memory, yes.
Professor Hill was said to have had “erotomania”. Psychiatrists came forward to hypothesize she was making it up bc she was obsessed with Thomas.
Professor Hill was said to have had “erotomania”. Psychiatrists came forward to hypothesize she was making it up bc she was obsessed with Thomas.
5. Dr. Blasey Ford has excellent legal representation flanking her. They jumped in when they saw inappropriate questioning.
Professor Hill was represented but alone in front of the committee. Her testimony changed the number of lawyers who work on sexual harassment.
Professor Hill was represented but alone in front of the committee. Her testimony changed the number of lawyers who work on sexual harassment.
6. Dr. Blasey Ford set the terms of her testimony. She negotiated with the committee for how and when she would appear.
Professor Hill was blindsided by a change in the order of who would speak 12 hours before it happened. She had very little notice and time to prepare.
Professor Hill was blindsided by a change in the order of who would speak 12 hours before it happened. She had very little notice and time to prepare.
7. Dr. Blasey Ford spoke first. Kavanaugh followed. They were given roughly the same amount of time.
Thomas spoke first and after Hill. He got to both frame her testimony and respond to it afterwards.
Thomas spoke first and after Hill. He got to both frame her testimony and respond to it afterwards.
8. Dr. Blasey Ford has had 3 GoFundMe’s set up. She testified in a time where “believe women” is a battlecry.
Professor Hill testifies in a time when people hadn’t heard of sexual harassment. The first woman many people publicly said they believed was Anita Hill.
Professor Hill testifies in a time when people hadn’t heard of sexual harassment. The first woman many people publicly said they believed was Anita Hill.
9. Dr. Blasey Ford had Alyssa Milano (actress and activist), Vanita Gupta (former head of DOJ civil rights) and Ai-Jen Poo (head of NDWA) sitting behind her.
Professor Hill did not have comparable power behind her.
Professor Hill did not have comparable power behind her.
10. Dr. Blasey Ford had people protesting, organizing and walking out of work to support her. People got arrested in the Capitol. Women are yelling their stories at Senators.
Professor Hill was not supported by the same type of organized grassroots activism.
Professor Hill was not supported by the same type of organized grassroots activism.
11. Dr. Blasey Ford was universally believed by the late night hosts. They supported and were in awe of her composure. They mocked Kavanaugh’s entitlement.
Professor Hill was met with skepticism at best and ridicule at worst. Gender dynamics were erased bc Thomas invoked race.
Professor Hill was met with skepticism at best and ridicule at worst. Gender dynamics were erased bc Thomas invoked race.
12. Dr. Blasey Ford was treated with respect by those who spoke to her during the hearing. Every Dem thanked her for her courage.
Professor Hill was mocked, asked invasive questions, disrespected and treated with hostility. Almost no one on the committee stood up for her.
Professor Hill was mocked, asked invasive questions, disrespected and treated with hostility. Almost no one on the committee stood up for her.
13. Dr. Blasey Ford was supported by men in an ad they took out in the NYT to say they believed her and Anita Hill. That they would do better.
Professor Hill was supported by Black Women in an ad they took out in the NYT. They defended themselves bc no one else was.
Professor Hill was supported by Black Women in an ad they took out in the NYT. They defended themselves bc no one else was.
14. Dr. Blasey Ford has not experienced a lot of the typical victim blaming we see. Media and committees members did not ask what she was wearing or if she was flirting with them.
Professor Hill was asked why she stayed in touch with Thomas and if they ever went out on a date.
Professor Hill was asked why she stayed in touch with Thomas and if they ever went out on a date.
15. Dr. Blasey Ford’s allegations were supported by other women. The American public knows those stories.
Professor Hill’s allegations were also supported by other women. The American public did not hear those stories till it was all said and done.
Professor Hill’s allegations were also supported by other women. The American public did not hear those stories till it was all said and done.
I do NOT think Dr. Blasey Ford’s allegations were treated correctly. I don’t even think they were handled particularly well. They were handled better than Professor Hill’s.
I do believe Dr. Blasey Ford was treated better bc she’s white. I also think it’s bc progress has been made in the last 21 years. We understand sexual harassment, sexual assault and rape culture in a way we did not in 1991.
I don’t think this is the end of the story. There are a lot of pieces written on how little has changed and how much further we have to go. In this moment of despair, I just wanted to offer that progress is being made and we need to keep pushing so that it continues to be made.
I’ll also say that for a lot of people, this felt worse bc we know more now as you can see in the replies to my question.
YES. Hill herself wrote an oped column about what should be different this time and has advocated for they change.
This is totally fair. The gains and progress have not been evenly distributed.
I was wrong about 4. Erotomania has returned as a defense.
Looks like 3 is starting to be wrong.
