Mayim Bialik Responds To Criticism: ‘I Am A Bleeding Heart Liberal AND A Social Conservative’
Mayim Bialik is the latest celebrity to insert herself into the debate about sexual harassment and assault in Hollywood — and she’s also the latest celebrity to find herself at the center of a fiery backlash over her words.
Bialik took part in a Facebook Live video Monday morning to explain what many saw as a “victim blaming” op-ed she published in The New York Times on Friday. The article described what it was like for Bialik to grow up as a Hollywood actress who was not “a perfect 10” — but it was her comments about dressing modestly that drew criticism.
“I still make choices every day as a 41-year-old actress that I think of as self-protecting and wise,” Bialik wrote. “I have decided that my sexual self is best reserved for private situations with those I am most intimate with. I dress modestly. I don’t act flirtatiously with men as a policy.”
“In a perfect world, women should be free to act however they want. But our world isn’t perfect. Nothing — absolutely nothing — excuses men for assaulting or abusing women. But we can’t be naive about the culture we live in.”
In the interview, Bialik attempted to clarify her remarks.
“There is a broad experience of being human and being female,” Bialik said. “I’m trying to come from a place of compassion.”
Bialik repeatedly referred to herself as “a traditional feminist” and said that it could be difficult for people to understand how she could be at once “a bleeding heart liberal and a social conservative.”
“I’m a very strong woman and I also like to iron handkerchiefs,” Bialik said.
Bialik addressed directly those who accused her of blaming sexual assault on the apparel of the victim.
“How you dress has nothing to do with assault and power,” Bialik said.
Reactions to the interview were mixed, with some Facebook users demanding an apology for Bialik’s original article — which she did not give.
Becky Scott is the editor of The Schmooze. Follow her on Twitter, @arr_scott
I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning journalism this Passover.
In this age of misinformation, our work is needed like never before. We report on the news that matters most to American Jews, driven by truth, not ideology.
At a time when newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall. That means for the first time in our 126-year history, Forward journalism is free to everyone, everywhere. With an ongoing war, rising antisemitism, and a flood of disinformation that may affect the upcoming election, we believe that free and open access to Jewish journalism is imperative.
Readers like you make it all possible. Right now, we’re in the middle of our Passover Pledge Drive and we need 500 people to step up and make a gift to sustain our trustworthy, independent journalism.
Make a gift of any size and become a Forward member today. You’ll support our mission to tell the American Jewish story fully and fairly.
— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO
Join our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
Our Goal: 500 gifts during our Passover Pledge Drive!
