There’s a common thread running through many of the MeToo stories.
The contrast between Mr. Wynn’s position and that of the salon and spa employees is stark. Former employees said their awareness of Mr. Wynn’s power in Las Vegas, combined with the knowledge that the jobs they held were among the best-paying available there, added up to a feeling of dependence and intimidation when Mr. Wynn made requests of them. [...]
The woman said that because he was her boss, she felt she had no choice but to agree to some of Mr. Wynn’s requests, including that one.— www.wsj.com/...
Just like Donald Trump, Steve Wynn too preyed on women who were not as powerful or wealthy as he was. Just like Donald Trump, Steve Wynn too used an army of high-priced lawyers and the occasional settlement to silence and threaten his accusers. Just like Donald Trump, Steve Wynn too relied on his well-connected friends to squash rumors of his sexual assaults.
All this should remind us that there is a causal link between income inequality and sexual abuse. It isn’t the entire explanation, but it is part of it. In a world where money is power, income inequality translates into a deep disparity in power. Weak worker protections, precarious economic conditions, and the fear of losing health insurance compel some to endure an abusive environment. No one should have to sacrifice their dignity to put food on the table.
Steve Wynn and the Economic Inequality Behind #MeToo
Compared with his accusers, Mr. Wynn is extraordinarily powerful. He has 11,000 employees in Las Vegas alone and has solidified his influence with millions of dollars in political contributions. The allegations against him should remind us of the vast economic disparities that make low-paid women especially vulnerable to misconduct by their wealthy bosses. [...]
The report of Mr. Wynn’s misconduct reminds me, a casino worker, of every time a manager stepped across the line or a V.I.P. guest’s behavior was excused because of his financial status. Here, low-income workers are made to feel indebted to the rich men like Mr. Wynn who pay their wages. In a city with little economic diversity, good middle-class jobs like those offered by Wynn Resorts are difficult to find. [...]
The majority of our wage work force is women, like those who brought allegations against Mr. Wynn. Women are the most common victims of sexual harassment. Without ensuring that all women have a living wage and the right to unionize — things that provide the security an employee needs before she even thinks about reporting misconduct — we will never end the problem. — www.nytimes.com/...
— @subirgrewal
Finally, despite all the attacks based on Weinstein’s tenuous links to Democrats, and Trump’s press conference with Bill Clinton’s accusers, seeking to damage Hillary Clinton in some way, Democratic leadership insist they will not respond in kind.
Two Democratic congresswomen told NBC News Thursday that there had been discussion about bringing women who have accused Trump of sexual misconduct to the nationally televised address but that the idea was scuttled.
"That was killed," one of the congresswomen said, declining to say who put the kibosh on it.
But House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., who has pressured Frankel not to hold mock hearings with Trump accusers, suggested Thursday that she doesn't support anything that smacks of politicizing the issue and risks turning off Republican lawmakers who are inclined to legislate with Democrats on sexual misconduct. — www.nbcnews.com/...