Holy Cross Sociology Professor Calls Weinstein Conviction a 'Public Restaging' of Women's Sexual Harassment

Selina Gallo-Cruz, associate professor of sociology at College of the Holy Cross and a social movements scholar, was quoted in a recent article for The Christian Science Monitor on how the #MeToo movement and the conviction of Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein have changed American society.

"What has long been commonplace in the private backstage experiences of women's lives is now being negotiated on a public front stage," said Gallo-Cruz.

Gallo-Cruz, who teaches in the Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies multidisciplinary program that explores the many facets of gender and sexuality, refers to this phenomenon as a "public restaging" of women's sexual harassment.

"I try to impress upon my students what life was like as a young woman when it was common to witness and experience sexual harassment," said Gallo-Cruz. "But just as it was 'normal,' it also existed in a private sphere."

"What was taboo was not the harassment itself but speaking out about it in public," she continued. "Now the times are changing this dynamic — we are in the midst of a paradigm shift."

Gallo-Cruz has published works on various aspects of feminist history and the politics of women's movements and movements against domestic violence and currently serves on the board of Abby’s House, one of the first shelters for women in the country.

To read the full article, go to CSMonitor.com.