The Power Shift
Words/ Lou Andrews Image/ Tony Dunn
TRIGGER WARNING – This article contains discussion surrounding sexual harassment
“We never dared to imagine it. A world that was built for us…where we are not afraid…every revolution begins with a spark”
It’s funny, because when I saw The Power advertised on Amazon Prime Video, I wasn’t quite sure if the storyline may be a little silly! I mean, women developing special powers to produce electricity? Is it a series about how to cut back on your soaring electric bills?! Be more eco friendly maybe? Then I saw that it had Toni Collette in it. That swung it for me. She’s an outstanding actress and pretty much anything she lends her name to is awesome in my eyes, so I gave it a go. What I didn’t imagine happening was that it was going to resonate so loudly with another topic I was writing about at the time…women’s safety on our streets.
The story begins with Allie Montgomery (played brilliantly by Halle Bush). When we first see her, she has been moved from foster home to foster home and now doesn’t speak, likely due to the trauma she has been through whilst in care. Allie is the first to feel the power.
We then see Roxy who wants to work for her crime boss of a father. However, he won’t permit this as she is a woman and he clearly doesn’t think that women are strong enough to represent his testosterone-fuelled crew! We first see Roxy’s power when she gets angry…the shape of things to come? You see where this is heading right? Repeatedly throughout the series, we are reminded of the same old stereotypes which sadly are still in place within our parallel universe. It’s littered with offences to women; violence, sexism, rape, belittling, you name it. So, I suddenly find myself realising that the show that I thought was going to be ‘far-fetched’ couldn’t have been more true to life. Yes, there is the concept of women producing electric vibes with their hands, but even that starts to have an element of realism when you realise this power already exists in nature – electric eels. We’re left to conclude that what these women are experiencing is evolution. A way to survive in what has become a chaotic, violent world where they simply don’t feel safe.
We’re left to conclude that what these women are experiencing is evolution. A way to survive in what has become a chaotic, violent world where they simply don’t feel safe.
Things get increasingly out of control as the same phenomena starts to happen all around the world. It’s a ticking timebomb just waiting to explode as women start to take back control. What this show does brilliantly is display what happens when the balance gets tipped. I have talked about that in earlier articles before. We need an even balance in whatever we do in life. When that balance gets tipped the other way, the same disastrous consequences are inevitable. It’s brilliantly written and superbly acted throughout. Ria Zmitrowicz is on fire (sometimes literally!) as Roxy. She is set for big things in my eyes. So where does this all lead? Well, if I told you that, you wouldn’t need to watch it would you?!
As always, this isn’t just an article on a TV series! As I mentioned earlier, when I watched The Power I was already writing about a linked topic. After my very eye-opening interview in the last edition with Emily Hawkins-Longley about her work at Victim Support, I thought I would investigate matters further. I discovered what can only be described as a brutal, but poignant documentary on Channel 4 called Undercover: sexual harassment – the truth. Now, if you haven’t watched it please do, as it’s an eye opener and not just for women, but for everyone. I have a little girl growing up in this world and these things affect us all. Investigative Journalist Ellie Flynn very courageously goes undercover pretending to be a drunk women on a night out who has been separated from her friends. What unfolds is, quite frankly, both shocking and disgraceful and the experiences visibly affect Ellie, both mentally and physically, throughout the documentary. A very powerful glimpse into how these types of events affect women in their everyday lives.
I always used to think ‘it’s not that bad out there, I’ve never really experienced it myself,’ but I had. I just never realised it, because it’s one of those things that as a woman you just expect to experience. That’s crazy! My mind has been so conditioned to accept this as ‘the way it is’, that I hadn’t even realised I had been through it myself! The grabbing of the bottom, inappropriate suggestions, having to be careful when out walking the streets alone, keeping my drinks close to me on a night out (and yes, I was spiked once – luckily a friend didn’t leave my side!) The list goes on and on! So, the question remains: how are there still so many people out there that think that this is acceptable behaviour?
Ellie chose two separate busy cities (London and Liverpool) on a typical buzzing weekend to prove the point that this is happening everywhere. We’re not talking about isolated incidents in one specific place. It’s a widespread disease for which, at the moment, there is no cure. Once out into the lion’s den, it’s minutes before a man approaches, inappropriately propositioning her. She tries to walk away, making it clear she is not interested, but the man pursues, relentlessly pestering, circling his prey with clear intent. He won’t leave her alone even though it’s clear she is too drunk to even walk properly (we know this is not true, but the role is executed brilliantly). She makes her way, stumbling, back to her hotel and he follows her. What happens next is just shocking and a pivotal point in this very eye-opening documentary. The man follows her into her hotel and then into her hotel room! My blood ran cold. What if that was my kid? We do our best to protect them, but how can we protect them from this! It’s everywhere and it needs to be stopped! You really need to watch this documentary to see for yourself, as this was just the tip of an exceptionally large iceberg...one that can sink any of us. A couple of the men even seemed to be claiming they were cab drivers. This made me think, were they telling the truth or was it a ploy? And if they were cab drivers, then once again we are faced with a situation where even the methods women use to ensure they are safe, are flawed! Get a cab home, that way you are safe! But, it seems even this may have consequences. That thought bungies me with a forceful yank back to the case that sent shockwaves through our communities in 2021…Sarah Everard. She was raped and murdered by a member of the very institution that women use to make themselves feel safe…the police force. She should have been safe. She did everything right. So where does that leave us?
The man follows her into her hotel and then into her hotel room! My blood ran cold. What if that was my kid?
Another feature in the documentary I want to touch on is online dating. This is something I have, thankfully, never had the displeasure of experiencing. Ellie sets herself up profiles on three of the top dating sites. She poses as an 18-year-old, using pictures of herself when she was that age. It’s not long before it starts…a barrage of explicit images, videos and inappropriate messages. My blood is sitting in a test tube above a fully–flamed bunsen burner right now! Why on earth would someone think that its OK to send this type of content to a young girl, or anyone for that matter?! As I talk to other women on dating sites, I realise that this is a ‘thing’ now. Normal behaviour that as a society we have come to expect – but it isn’t, is it? If a man got his bits out in the street, he would be brandished as a flasher, but do it online and that is ok? It really isn’t. When I ask what women do when they receive such content, I am hit with an even more sobering response. Nothing. It seems this is so frequent that women just ignore the messages as they are an expected entity. And that is something that I think we need to do something about. We all need to be reporting this and these people need to be removed from all accessible means of distribution. If we don’t, where does this lead? Those people are likely to go on to cause actual physical harm in my eyes, because you must ask yourself what sort of a person does that and thinks its ok?!
So how do I conclude an article like this? Well, I don’t really! It’s the grease stain on your favourite t-shirt that just won’t go away, no matter how many times you wash it. There is no conclusion, but there are some things that we can do right now.
One of the things I noticed in the documentary is that Ellie was out in busy towns, with people everywhere, but no-one noticed the harassment she was enduring. And I get that, because, let’s face it, when we are out we are having fun, having a few drinks, blocking out everything else in the real world to focus on a good night out. That we can change. Next time you are out on a night out, just be aware of what is happening around you and, if you see someone in this position, go and ask if they are OK. It’s a little thing that can make a big difference. We all need to stick together and protect each other as a community. ‘We shouldn’t have to’ I hear you say, and yes, I agree, but right now we DO have to. I know I have certainly become more aware.
The other thing...practise pack mentality. Strength in numbers right? The bottom line is, if you are out with mates then you all have each other’s backs at all times. That way, if one of you does get spiked the perpetrator will be unable to get to you. Let’s face it, that’s the end game isn’t it? Spike and then isolate. If they are unable to isolate then there is no end game, so we cut them off at the source.
...practise pack mentality. Strength in numbers right? The bottom line is, if you are out with mates then you all have each other’s backs at all times.
Also, if you are out on a night out and decide to get a cab – make sure you ask to see their license so you know they are legit. And finally, if you get sent indecent images, videos or content, please do report it and block them immediately.
Whilst this article focuses on women, I am under no illusions (and you shouldn’t be either), that this can, and does happen to anyone. There’s more that can be done and believe me when I say we will be looking into this further. Watch this space!
Lou x