Is casting couch =sexual harassment?

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bips

@bips

Sparkler

+ 8

Posted: 6 years ago

This is something my friends and i were debating ... Not referring to say a boyfriend recommending his gf for a role say like tiger and disha rumours but more in line with what imran said that some actors or producers simply say that unless u sleep with me you'll not get a role

Pooja bhatt recently said that this is quid pro quo ... Bec you can choose to walk away

but i think it is harassment... Imagine if each of us in our chosen profession had to face this ques- either sleep with x or dont get hired ...how many times would you walk away from a career you want if the entry requirement everywhere is that u need to compromise

Your thoughts?

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Erika

@roni_berna

Stunner

+ 6

Posted: 6 years ago

It does count as sexual harassment.

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ponymo

@ponymo

Sparkler

+ 4

Posted: 6 years ago

This "You can choose to walk away" argument is a fallcy IMO.

You leave your small town and come to Mumbai in the hopes of becoming an actor, live under difficult conditions (it's a nightmare to live in Mumbai if you don't have the means). You simply cannot afford to be unemployed.

So when every casting agent/actor/producer/director is demanding sexual favours, how is that a choice? It is coercion, and therefore harassment.

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Peanutbolt

@Peanutbolt

Voyager

Posted: 6 years ago

what makes this subject tricky for a movie industry is you dont have a sexual harassment prevention committee or any authority where you can take up this issue and salvage your opportunities, what happens may be consensual but there are very little chances to override that person and still have the same opportunity...

abuse of power is wrong, some might be in a position to walk out, some may not have any other option but to succumb and some might indulge just to get their own advantage out the situation(Affairs/Relartionships gone wrong/EMAs)...i think it must be viewed more on case to case basis, rather than having a blanket statements.

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Male-Chauvinist-Pig

@Ur-Miserable

Stunner

+ 4

Posted: 6 years ago

Well it is taking advantage of a person, so yes it is a from of blackmail, a form of harassment as the person is being asked for something not related to the job.

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TheRager

@TheRager

Achiever

+ 4

Posted: 6 years ago

Yes it is. Casting couch is similar to someone being asked to sleep with the boss to move ahead in their career. If the latter can be sexual harassment then so is casting couch. Those who have refused the casting couch have faced many problems in their careers just like people who have refused to sleep with the boss.

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954014

Hibernated

Posted: 6 years ago

of course it is..

i also don't think its consent when consent is granted under false pretences and lies..and the perp knows that they wouldn't get consent without the lie...hence rape by deception

Edited by Doodh_Ki_Dhuli - 6 years ago

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1098676

Suspended

Posted: 6 years ago

It's not sexual harassment because it happens with consent. You have to choose between your dreams and your ethics. Though it's a very difficult choice to make, but it's still a choice.

In the corporate world, it's called harassment because the boss can fire you if you say no. But here the director can't do any harm to you if you walk away, so it's not blackmail. It's a price you have to pay. Yes, it's morally wrong. The guy is being a pervert and abusing his power, but the girl is also being an opportunist.

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Shaitaan Haiwan

@Shaitan-Haiwan

Stunner

+ 8

Posted: 6 years ago

It depends on the circumstances.

Casting couch is moreso exploitation and fraud...but not so much harassment since you are agreeing to it.

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Flame.

@Flame.

Rocker

+ 4

Posted: 6 years ago

#10

Yes it is.

The consent in it is involved only and only due to the power position of one of them. Remove the power and the consent vanishes. It is exploitation and part of sexual harassment.

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Is casting couch =sexual harassment?

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