When I was about 16, I made a rule for myself that whenever I saw our culture turn on a woman for commiting some offense or other, I'd assume that her misdeeds were being at least somewhat exaggerated by misogynists, and I'd look into what she actually did before passing judgment.
I find myself having to apply that rule soooo often.
This actually goes double for celebrity women. These are the most exposed women, and how we treat them reflects a lot about how we think it's okay to treat women in general.
When we accept – or even participate in – their mistreatment, we are essentially telling our culture that it's okay to mistreat women, and we also accept it for ourselves.
