Yahoo News Germaine Greer sparks backlash after criticising 'whingeing' #MeToo movement
Germaine Greer has sparked outrage after criticising the "whingeing" #MeToo movement and suggesting some women "spread their legs" for top film roles.
Speaking ahead of an appearance in London on Saturday she told the Sydney Morning Herald women of her generation "weren't afraid to slap [men] down".
The 78-year-old spoke later at Australia House on the Strand where she was named "Australian of the Year in Britain".
She said: "In the old days, there were movies - the Carry On comedies, for example - which always had a man leering after women.
"And the women always outwitted him - he was a fool. We weren't afraid of him and we weren't afraid to slap him down.
"What makes it different is when the man has economic power, as Harvey Weinstein has.
"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."
A number of Hollywood stars joined together to wear black in support of the movement against sexual assault at the Golden Globes earlier this month.
More than 50 women have made accusations of sexual assault and harassment against disgraced producer Weinstein since last year.
He has denied all allegations of non-consensual sex.
Critics took to social media to vent their frustration with Ms Greer's comments.
One Twitter user, @marstrina, called her a "long-time irritant for exasperated feminists".
Germaine Greer is a long-time irritant for exasperated feminists. She was always adjacent to the movement rather than of it - a loose canon. Characterising her as some sort of spokeswoman for the second wave is just "oh, old women, they're all the same" sexism. #MeToo
— MarinaS (@marstrina) January 23, 2018
Another, Elena Soper, said she had "no place in modern feminism".
She continued: "Her brand of feminism should be left in the past where it belongs.
"We can learn from it but we must move on and develop with the times."
Germaine Greer has no place in modern feminism. Her brand of feminism should be left in the past where it belongs. We can learn from it but we must move on and develop with the times.
— Elena Soper (@elfieatlanticx) January 23, 2018
Meanwhile Rachel Anne Gore wrote: "Please stop talking, Germaine. It's starting to sound, to use a phrase you love, whingey."
Please stop talking, Germaine. It's starting to sound, to use a phrase you love, whingey. #germainegreer
— rachaelannegore (@rachaelannegore) January 23, 2018
Ms Greer went on to say rape should be "ditched altogether" as a crime in favour of a "coherent law on sexual assault".
She said: “My feeling is we ditch rape altogether [as a crime] because it’s hopeless.
"I have seen the police working up a rape case trying desperately hard to build it up so it will stand up in court – and wasting their time.
“The burden of proof is too high and that’s because the tariff is too onerous.
"Rape is a daily crime, it’s not spectacular. What we need is a coherent law of sexual assault.”
