- Natalia Vivino
- Mar 28, 2018
- 3 min read
NORTHRIDGE, CA - The theatre industry is taking action when it comes to sexual assault. Last week, a meeting was held at the A.R.T./New York Theatres in New York City to discuss an app called Callisto. It helps sexual assault victims report their abusers. The meeting was jam-packed with people ranging from actors to directors and other industry professionals.
Credit, Callisto
Callisto emerged in 2015 as a tool for college victims of sexual assault to report their abusers in a fast, easy, and confidential way. Thirteen universities use the app today, with one of the most prominent being Stanford. It's already widely known that college students are at high risk of experiencing sexual assault. Victims are always urged to speak up, but the amount of documented reports we have isn't an exact measurement of how much assault is actually happening, or to whom. An individual of any profession is at risk of (or has already experienced) assault, whether they're in entertainment, or they're bagging groceries at a nearby shopping center. It's common for victims to wait months, even years, to report their abuser. An app like Callisto is there for them when they're ready to talk, and it doesn't dismiss anyone's case.
With the recent and vast outpouring of sexual assault allegations against prominent figures in the entertainment industry, the discussion on sexual assault demands is louder than ever before. In film and television, we have industry giants like Harvey Weinstein, Kevin Spacey, and Louis C.K. losing their entire careers over their behaviors. In the theatre world, it's no different. In late February, for instance, the producer for Disney's brand-new Broadway production of Frozen was accused of sexual misconduct.
So, what can be done? Fortunately, Callisto may be able to help, but the app still has a long way to go before it's reached its full potential. During the meeting held in New York, audience members discussed how the theatre industry specifically could incorporate Callisto's features into a medium for members of their working community.
No idea is devoid of flaws. The most pressing concerns included how the app would receive funding, and if someone were to use its features for malicious intent, how would it know the difference? Callisto's founder, Jessica Ladd, provided as many answers as she could give. She assured that all data inputted by its users was confidential, and that the app will spread to other industries (not just theatre) in the future. She also said that the main goal would be to figure out a way for the app to function in an industry that's already so spread out.
Full membership would cost each user $40 a year. Ladd hopes the funding will be supported by unions, instead of having to make members pay out of pocket. After the meeting, the Actors' Equity Association Council ("Actors' Equity" is the union for working actors) made it clear they won't take part in such funding. This, along with the issue of weeding out false reports from real ones, had Ladd and her chief technology officer Anjana Rajan saying they're still figuring out a solution. However, the support remains widespread. High-profile activists like Gloria Steinem, who couldn't physically appear at the meeting, still sent her approval via written statement.
Some of the app's stronger features include connecting victims who share the same abuser. As the saying goes, there's strength in numbers. When more than one person reports an attacker, they have a greater chance of being heard. Once two victims of the same attacker are connected, they have the option to either confront the person responsible, report the incident, or go to the press.
If Callisto were to function for both universities and workplaces, it could be monumental in helping other people. It has the potential to be a major step forward in the fight against sexual assault, but for now, we have to wait and see how it develops.
Credit, Jessica Ladd (TED)
By Natalia Vivino
With Contributions by, The New Yorker, Project Callisto, and Willamette Public Health
Photo credit, Callisto
Video credit, Jessica Ladd (TED)
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