Moral Maze

Moral Complicity


Listen Later

Following claims of rape or sexual harassment made by dozens of women against the movie mogul Harvey Weinstein, a picture emerges of one of the most powerful men in Hollywood exerting pressure on young actresses at the start of their careers, often in hotel rooms and offices. While the allegations of non-consensual sex are denied, the story has prompted a collective soul-searching in Tinseltown and beyond. How was Harvey Weinstein's behaviour tolerated, why did so few people speak out against him, and how many other Weinsteins are out there? Some say this is not an aberration, just a typical example of unrestrained male behaviour. They believe that many men would do the same sort of thing if they thought they could get away with it. For others, the problem has less to do with gender and is more about a general abuse of power. They argue that in showbiz - as in other sectors such as fashion and sport - there is not enough accountability, and there needs to be stricter mechanisms to deal with bullying at work. Central to both those interpretations of the problem is the concept of moral complicity. To what extent are those who tolerate a crime also responsible for it? Do we all have a moral duty to speak out about unacceptable behaviour, even if that comes at huge personal cost? Or are we too quick to label those who knew, and did nothing, as 'hypocrites'? Should we do more to encourage and support the reporting of suspicions? Or is there a danger of creating a society of greater division and mistrust? Witnesses are Ella Whelan, Laura Bates, Prof Josh Cohen and Corinne Sweet.

Producer: Dan Tierney.

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Moral MazeBy BBC Radio 4

  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7

4.7

49 ratings


More shows like Moral Maze

View all
In Our Time by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time

5,408 Listeners

The Documentary Podcast by BBC World Service

The Documentary Podcast

1,833 Listeners

Global News Podcast by BBC World Service

Global News Podcast

7,715 Listeners

Thinking Allowed by BBC Radio 4

Thinking Allowed

307 Listeners

6 Minute English by BBC Radio

6 Minute English

1,824 Listeners

Learning English Conversations by BBC Radio

Learning English Conversations

1,072 Listeners

The Week in Westminster by BBC Radio 4

The Week in Westminster

29 Listeners

More or Less: Behind the Stats by BBC Radio 4

More or Less: Behind the Stats

893 Listeners

A Point of View by BBC Radio 4

A Point of View

74 Listeners

The Reith Lectures by BBC Radio 4

The Reith Lectures

154 Listeners

The Infinite Monkey Cage by BBC Radio 4

The Infinite Monkey Cage

1,927 Listeners

Newshour by BBC World Service

Newshour

1,069 Listeners

Any Questions? and Any Answers? by BBC Radio 4

Any Questions? and Any Answers?

44 Listeners

The New Statesman | UK politics and culture by The New Statesman

The New Statesman | UK politics and culture

127 Listeners

Curious Cases by BBC Radio 4

Curious Cases

821 Listeners

The Briefing Room by BBC Radio 4

The Briefing Room

75 Listeners

Political Thinking with Nick Robinson by BBC Radio 4

Political Thinking with Nick Robinson

106 Listeners

Americast by BBC News

Americast

741 Listeners

You're Dead to Me by BBC Radio 4

You're Dead to Me

2,968 Listeners

Inside Briefing with the Institute for Government by Institute for Government

Inside Briefing with the Institute for Government

26 Listeners

The Rest Is Politics by Goalhanger

The Rest Is Politics

3,091 Listeners

The News Agents by Global

The News Agents

974 Listeners

The Rest Is Politics: Leading by Goalhanger

The Rest Is Politics: Leading

964 Listeners

Radical with Amol Rajan by BBC Radio 4

Radical with Amol Rajan

32 Listeners