Time for Accountability in Our Workplaces/The courage to speak up is often heavier than the silence that precedes it.
When someone in the creative industry speaks up about sexual harassment, it’s never just a personal story, it’s a mirror held up to the system.
When filmmaker Dr. Asha Achy Joseph chose to publicly address the harassment she allegedly faced in connection with the International Film Festival of Kerala, she did more than share her experience.
She asked an uncomfortable question on behalf of all of us:
Are our workplaces truly safe, or do they just appear to be?
Creative industries often pride themselves on being progressive. Yet power imbalances, silence, and fear of retaliation still prevent many from speaking up.
So let’s pause and reflect:
• Does your organization have a safe and visible redressal system?
• Do employees know how to report misconduct?
• As leaders, are we proactive, or reactive?
• As colleagues, do we create safe spaces for difficult conversations?
Real change doesn’t happen when one person speaks.
It happens when communities respond.
I’d like to hear from you:
👉 What concrete steps can industries take to ensure dignity and safety at work?
👉 How can we move from awareness to action?
Let’s not just read stories. Let’s build better systems.
Your thoughts?
~Dr. Medha Shetye
