Stockholm, Monday
The tidal wave of the big wave pulls in over southeastern Europe. Not the corona wave, we leave it outside this chronicle, but me too the wave. For more than three years after the Me too autumn of 2017, Greece and more countries in the Balkans have had a Me too winter.
Then, in 2017, it was relatively quiet in several countries in Southeastern Europe. But now the testimonies of sexual abuse take turns.
In Serbia, it started last winter with actress Milena Radulovic, who along with several other women accused a well-known drama teacher and producer of rape. In neighboring countries such as Bosnia and Croatia, and also in Slovenia, support campaigns were launched in which women testified about similar experiences.
In Greece, the call began in the sport, when former sailing star Sofia Becatorou told that she was abused by a person in the Greek Sailing Federation over 20 years ago. More athletes followed with their experiences and the call spread to academia and the cultural sector.
Probably the most notable case concerns the head of the Greek National Theater, who was forced to resign and was arrested after two men accused him of raping them when they were minors.
Now the debate is now about how to deal with the fact that the theater director has not yet been convicted. When the accusations became known, he was named immediately, and a picture of him as he was led away by two police officers, looking straight into the camera, was published by several newspapers.
The media should not act in court, some believe, a dangerous person who does not deserve better, others believe. At the same time, some question the credibility of the people who are now testifying about abuse – why do they choose to appear right now – perhaps they have other motives?
The debate is lively, and recognizable. But there are also industries where it still echoes silently. A friend as a worker in the Greek media sector, from which basically no testimonies of misconduct have come out, says that the women there still do not want to talk, no one will believe them. And the media houses, which in Greece are often close to different political parties, will not allow their reputation to be damaged, she says.
One is simply afraid of being fired – and indeed a survey from last year shows that eight out of ten Greek women are afraid of losing their jobs if they report sexual harassment.
Now this survey is done before the Greek me too winter and maybe it is changing. But that could explain why it took so long for me too daring to hit the Greek shores.
Source: ICELAND NEWS