By Eduardo Lemus
In a society where injustices are common and people are less tolerant of harmful behavior, the cancel culture has become a powerful tool for social change. Cambridge Dictionary defines cancel culture as a social practice of calling out a person or public figure they have made offensive actions, with the goal of getting companies that have worked with them to cancel current and future projects they had with that person.
The main objective of this culture is to empower the public to express their discontent with people who believe they have enough power to be untouchable. Many criticize this culture as a way of silencing voices; however, it is about giving greater coverage to the voices of the ignored and seeking the justice that has long been denied to them.
Sexual harassment & the MeToo movement
A social change brought about by cancel culture was the exposure of hundreds of cases of sexual harassment and the perpetrators of such acts suffering the consequences.
StopStreetHarassment, a non-profit organization, conducted a survey in 2018 on the problem of sexual abuse in the United States. The results revealed that across the country, 81% of women and 43% of men have experienced some form of sexual harassment or assault at some point in their lives.
One of the movements that emerged from cancel culture is MeToo. This movement aims to give people who have suffered sexual harassment or assault the opportunity to report this treatment and point out the culprits.
The most famous case in which MeToo had a great influence was the Harvey Weinstein case. Weinstein was a film producer and one of the most powerful and influential men in the industry; however, he had committed many depraved acts against women, which he managed to get away with by silencing his victims through threats.
When the MeToo movement began to get involved in the case, countless women who had endured abuse at the hands of Harvey Weinstein found the courage to share their stories, ultimately exposing the full extent of his crimes.
The Retail Insider, an organization specialized in data collection, explains on its website what happened to Weinstein following the accusations.
“Over 80 women eventually accused him of harassment, assault, or worse,” said Retail Insider. “The evidence mounted, and the public outrage grew…Harvey Weinstein’s career was over, and he faced criminal charges. In 2020, he was convicted of rape and sexual assault and sentenced to 23 years in prison.”
Like Weinstein, many other powerful public figures were exposed to the public, causing widespread rejection from society and forcing them to face the consequences of their actions. Currently, most are serving very long prison sentences or are unable to find any kind of job because no company wants to work with someone who has committed such reprehensible acts.
Fear of Speaking Out & Retaliation
As cancel culture and the movements that emerged from it gained influence, many victims of abuse found the courage to speak out about their experiences. The fear that once silenced them began to diminish as society became more receptive to holding abusers accountable.
Grace Price, a journalist for the website Eyrine Online, sheds light on the reasons behind victims’ reluctance to expose their abusers.
“Many survivors said they had been afraid to tell their stories as they believed people would not believe them or would blame them,” Prince said.
Another common reason why many victims remain silent is due to the risk of retaliation from their abusers-especially when those abusers wield significant power and influence. In many cases, these individuals use their status to intimidate or discredit those who expose their misconduct.
A recent example of this is actress Blake Lively’ experience. During the filming of It Ends With Us, the director of the film, Justin Baldoni, began displaying a harmful attitude toward the actress, something she reported to her superiors.
When the actress’s allegations became public, she began to suffer a smear campaign by the director and Melissa Nathan, the production company’s head of public relations, aimed at tarnishing her image and getting her fired from the project.
Journalist Lindsay Goldbrum writes in an article for the website Outten & Golden about the threats the actress received.
“Text messages and emails obtained through subpoena and reviewed by the Times allegedly show explicit plans to discredit her, with Nathan writing, ‘you know we can bury anyone,’” Lindsay said. “The alleged smear campaign coincided with a sharp uptick in online criticism of Lively, including claims that she was ‘difficult to work with’ and ‘tone-deaf.’”
Through collective action, cancel culture serves as a protective force for victims, acting as a deterrent against abusers who attempt to retaliate. It not only encourages more people to come forward but also provides ongoing support, reinforcing the idea that victims are not alone in their fight for justice.
Harmful Behaviors & the Power of People
Cancel culture has played a significant role in encouraging people to critically evaluate their actions and consider whether their behavior could be perceived as harmful or offensive. Cancel culture has fostered a greater sense of responsibility and awareness in society.
One of the most impactful effects is the enforcement of social and professional consequences for harmful behavior. The fear of being canceled compels individuals to think more carefully before they act or speak, leading to a cultural shift where ethical considerations take precedence over ignorance or disregard for others.
This influence extends beyond individuals to corporations and institutions. Companies are increasingly adopting policies against discrimination and misconduct, recognizing that failing to do so can lead to public backlash and damage their reputation. When an individual associated with an organization engages in harmful behavior, cancel culture pressures that organization to take stand-whether through disciplinary actions, policy changes, or public commitments to ethical standards.
Ultimately, cancel culture promotes a society with higher ethical expectations, fostering deeper discussions about acceptable behavior and the impact of harmful actions. By holding individuals and organizations, it strengthens collective responsibility and reinforces the power of public opinion in shaping a more just world.