The trust centre “Themis” is to help in the future, sexual harassment in the German Film – and theatre business to uncover. How #MeToo has changed the industry, says actor Hans-Werner Meyer in the DW-Interview.
Deutsche Welle: Mr. Meyer, in response to numerous #MeToo cases also in the German spectacle industry, they demanded, in the spring of a new code of conduct. They feel a culture change?
Hans-Werner Meyer: the fact that the subject is taken much more serious, is part of the culture change. People who report a sexually connoted abuse of power, to be taken, it is my impression, now more serious than before. Before the #MeToo debate on the subject existed in a kind of sleazy corner, and you know that it is there the turning but reluctantly. Now a look away is no longer possible to disqualify it for a serious conversation. But the much-trumpeted culture change requires much more, of course: gender parity and a different way of dealing with positions of power, for example. I can feel him so well, this change of culture, but rather the delicate beginnings, setbacks included.
#MeToo is in the look industry game because, in fact, not yet a topic in everyday life? Or is already back to “Business as usual”?
Oh, Yes, it is quite talked about it yet. In the USA, the effects of which are, of course, to feel as usual in such debates, clearly. In the case of Kavanaugh in America, for example, would not have had without the #MeToo sure these effects. The great wave of confessions and revelations may be over, but the sense of which was, of course, first and foremost, the wall of silence to break, not a permanent public Tribunal. For the specific cases, the inter-company trust centre “Themis”, the Federal Association of drama together with ProQuote Film and a large coalition of associations in the creative industry, as well as the support of the Secretary of state for Culture (Monika Grütters, Anm. d. editorial) has brought to life. This Institution will hopefully prevent the back to “Business as usual” is restored.
This Trust has since 1. October. How will be defined there, where sexism begins?
We do not need to define new, because in the anti-discrimination law is already regulated in detail, what is sexual harassment in the workplace. This will guide the Trust. For example, sexually suggestive comments or jokes in the workplace can constitute sexual harassment, because you can’t Dodge, unlike in the public space.
“Power has to be controllable”, says Hans-Werner Meyer
Many actors have reported that the #MeToo-the debate has made them more courageous and fight back since then, to strengthen the fight against sexism. You can observe this in everyday life?
I’ve heard of such cases, and watch, in any case, a new awareness in dealing with the issue. You are talking about, now lighter and with a larger a matter of course. And I have the impression that at the theatres, where seduction, Power abuse, is particularly large, a new Generation no longer grows up, accepts such an abuse as a matter of course, as was still the case.
Have you seen the Actresses who go to the Public and open your mouth, have a drawback, in a role not get, for example, because they are all like that?
No, I have not heard in person so far. But the fear is great, and because you never know, which is why it is occupied or not occupied, entirely justified. This fact was also an important reason for the establishment of the trust office, which, so far as I know, is well accepted. The courage to report, has grown significantly, because now there is hope that such behavior will not only have consequences but also that the case is confidential, and competently treated.
Many men say you don’t know how to for #MeToo-debate behavior. It is this uncertainty among male co-stars?
I’ve read some Interviews of male colleagues, which is not quite at the height of the subject to be talked about and the debate as a contribution to the uncertainty of dealing between the sexes. This is in some ways understandable, if one starts only from its own experience and ignores the fact that sexual harassment, discrimination and abuse are now widely used time far.
Make the same mistake again but also some colleagues who have either experienced or never assume that it belongs to just according to the Motto: What does not kill us makes us stronger.
You can abuse not often enough emphasize: power, sexual connotations, or not, affects women and men equally. It is not a question of the relationship between the sexes, but between people who exercise Power and the people, power which they exercise. Because there are still significantly more men in positions of power than women, there are also significantly more women are affected.
Exactly this part very large power differential between actors and producers, or Television journalists, is difficult to get around to, finally, producers and editors choose occupations on the Role. Is the abuse of power at all completely avoid?
I don’t think that this can be entirely avoided. As long as there is Power, there is abuse of power. Therefore, it is important that you change the structures so that it constructively dealt with. Power is nothing Wrong, but they must be controllable.
Hans-Werner Meyer is an actor and Vice-Chairman of the Federal Association of drama.
The Interview was conducted by Paula Rösler.