Germaine Greer criticises ‘whingeing’ #MeToo campaigners
Feminist says actresses ‘spreading legs’ for roles is ‘tantamount to consent’

Germaine Greer has criticised the Hollywood #MeToo movement, saying actresses should stop “whingeing” about sexual harassment if they allowed contact in exchange for a film role.
The outspoken Australian feminist also says she wants to see women react to sexual harassment by taking direct and immediate action, because in the “old days” women were not afraid to “slap down” men who leered at them.
Greer, 78, allegedly made her controversial comments in an interview ahead of a ceremony in London on Saturday, at which she was named Australian of the Year. Speaking about the recent Hollywood sex abuse scandal, she reportedly told Fairfax Media: “What makes it different is when the man has economic power, as Harvey Weinstein has. But if you spread your legs because he said ‘be nice to me and I’ll give you a job in a movie’ then I’m afraid that’s tantamount to consent, and it’s too late now to start whingeing about that.”
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The outburst has met with criticism.
The Sydney Morning Herald columnist Natalie Reilly claims Greer is out of touch, saying: “It’s not that her views are outrageous (this is hardly news). But that her motivation, once high-minded, is now, in 2018, obsolete.”
“Perhaps Germaine Greer should pause to check her privilege,” says the Herald Sun’s Wendy Tuohy.
“Greer was presumably assigned the privilege of becoming Australian of the Year off the back of her decades-old brand as a women’s rights warrior. It’s sad to think that maybe that, too, is historical,” Tuohy adds.
The Independent notes that this isn’t the first time Greer’s comments have landed her in hot water: her beliefs about transgender women have also been questioned.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Kenya arrests alleged ant smugglers
speed read Two young Belgians have been charged for attempting to smuggle ants out of the country to exotic pet buyers
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
'You shouldn't need a private company to fill out paperwork for you'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US
-
China accuses NSA of Winter Games cyberattacks
speed read China alleges that the U.S. National Security Agency launched cyberattacks during the Asian Winter Games in February
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US
-
Inside the Israel-Turkey geopolitical dance across Syria
THE EXPLAINER As Syria struggles in the wake of the Assad regime's collapse, its neighbors are carefully coordinating to avoid potential military confrontations
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US
-
'Like a sound from hell': Serbia and sonic weapons
The Explainer Half a million people sign petition alleging Serbian police used an illegal 'sound cannon' to disrupt anti-government protests
By Abby Wilson
-
The arrest of the Philippines' former president leaves the country's drug war in disarray
In the Spotlight Rodrigo Duterte was arrested by the ICC earlier this month
By Justin Klawans, The Week US
-
Ukrainian election: who could replace Zelenskyy?
The Explainer Donald Trump's 'dictator' jibe raises pressure on Ukraine to the polls while the country is under martial law
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK
-
Why Serbian protesters set off smoke bombs in parliament
THE EXPLAINER Ongoing anti-corruption protests erupted into full view this week as Serbian protesters threw the country's legislature into chaos
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US
-
Who is the Hat Man? 'Shadow people' and sleep paralysis
In Depth 'Sleep demons' have plagued our dreams throughout the centuries, but the explanation could be medical
By The Week Staff
-
Why Assad fell so fast
The Explainer The newly liberated Syria is in an incredibly precarious position, but it's too soon to succumb to defeatist gloom
By The Week UK
-
Romania's election rerun
The Explainer Shock result of presidential election has been annulled following allegations of Russian interference
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK