What the Harvey Weinstein case tells us about sexual assault disclosure

Editor's note

Hollywood has been rocked this week after a string of allegations of sexual assault and harassment stretching back years were made against high-profile film producer Harvey Weinstein. Cases like these, Bianca Fileborn writes, raise many questions – particularly surrounding how powerful men are able to abuse for years with relative impunity, and what we can all do to prevent similar instances from reoccurring.

Michael Courts

Editor

Politics + Society

The power disparity between Harvey Weinstein and his alleged victims plays into a range of myths and stereotypes about women. Reuters/Mario Anzuoni

What the Harvey Weinstein case tells us about sexual assault disclosure

Bianca Fileborn, UNSW

Men like Harvey Weinstein have been able to abuse with relative impunity, despite many in the entertainment industry appearing to know or have suspicion of their behaviour.

A client whose hair she had been cutting for 20 years came in as usual, and then, without any prompting or preamble, launched into a tirade against Muslims. Shutterstock

The Hanson effect: how hate seeps in and damages us all

Denis Muller, University of Melbourne

In a suburban hair salon, a Muslim woman suddenly feels unwelcome in the country she has loved for 40 years.

Health + Medicine

Some cultures believe drinking alcohol will kill the germs that cause a sore throat or a tummy bug. from www.shutterstock.com.au

Health Check: does drinking alcohol kill the germs it comes into contact with?

Vincent Ho, Western Sydney University

Wine has long been known for its disinfecting and cleansing properties. So can it kill flu and other bugs? And what about other types of alcohol?

Even if you’re not sick, your nose runs when it’s cold. Why? from www.shutterstock.com

I've always wondered: why your nose runs when it's cold

David King, The University of Queensland

A reader wants to know why our noses run just because it's cold.

Multimedia

Xi Jinping will look to consolidate his power at the party congress next week. The Conversation

Video explainer: at China's 19th National Party Congress, Xi's vision and legacy are at stake

Sunanda Creagh, The Conversation; Emil Jeyaratnam, The Conversation

Next week, the Communist Party of China will commence its 19th National Party Congress, where its leadership and policy agenda for the next five years will be announced.

Science + Technology

How the Great Barrier Reef can be helped to help repair the damaged reef. AIMS/Neal Cantin

The Great Barrier Reef can repair itself, with a little help from science

Ken Anthony, Australian Institute of Marine Science; Britta Schaffelke, Australian Institute of Marine Science; Line K Bay, Australian Institute of Marine Science; Madeleine van Oppen, Australian Institute of Marine Science

Corals on the Great Barrier Reef that are tolerant to warmer waters can be used to help repair other parts of the reef damaged by recent coral bleaching events.

Is there such a thing as a victim-less steak? Matthew Dillon/Flickr

Weighing up lab-grown steak: the problems with eating meat are not Silicon Valley's to solve

Oron Catts, University of Western Australia

Based on a seductive story of providing food with zero consequences, cellular agriculture promises to get rid of the ethical, environmental and health costs of animal husbandry. But is that realistic?

Cities

While parts of Australian capital cities are highly liveable, access to the features that underpin liveability is highly unequal. kittis/shutterstock

This is what our cities need to do to be truly liveable for all

Julianna Rozek, RMIT University; Billie Giles-Corti, RMIT University

The challenge of creating liveable communities across Australia's capital cities comes down to seven key factors. And assessed on this basis, parts of our cities don't fare so well.

The Living Space development in Cockburn, Western Australia, has won praise as an innovative mixed-use social housing project. Courtesy of HHA Projects

Some states do better than others on affordable housing – we can learn from the successes

Steven Rowley, Curtin University; Peter Phibbs, University of Sydney

The states that are delivering more affordable housing have sophisticated, multi-pronged strategies to serve the full range of needs.

Environment + Energy

Australia’s species, like this green python, are remarkable, and need far better protection. Jenny Martin

Australia's species need an independent champion

Euan Ritchie, Deakin University; Dale Nimmo, Charles Sturt University; Don Driscoll, Deakin University; Geoffrey Heard, Charles Sturt University; James Watson, The University of Queensland; Megan C Evans, The University of Queensland; Tim Doherty, Deakin University

Australia's species, like this green python, are remarkable and need far better protection.

The thermal efficiency of some new homes in Australia has come under question. AAP Image/Joel Carrett

Construction industry loophole leaves home buyers facing higher energy bills

Saskia Pickles, Curtin University

The law says that newly built houses should have a six-star energy rating, to help residents afford their heating and cooling bills. But some builders seem to be findings ways around this requirement.

Arts + Culture

Wild horses, known as brumbies, in Australia. Shutterstock.com

Friday essay: the cultural meanings of wild horses

Michael Adams, University of Wollongong

From 30,000-year-old cave paintings to The Man From Snowy River, wild horses have always been part of human culture. As Australia debates what to do with 'brumbies' in mountain environments, it's time to reconsider their place.

The Dove ad published on Facebook, which the company took down after many complaints of racial insensitivity. NayTheMUA/Facebook

Dove, real beauty and the racist history of skin whitening

Liz Conor, La Trobe University

Beauty brand Dove caused controversy with an ad seemingly showing a black woman turning white after using its body lotion. While Dove removed the ad, it played into the racist history of skin whitening.

Business + Economy

A meeting of the Council of Australian Governments. AAP

Three areas to reform federal-state financial relations

John Freebairn, University of Melbourne

The Productivity Commission has recommended reform to the relationship between the federal and state governments. Here are three areas that demand it.

Behavioural economics is turning traditional notions of risk on their head. EPA/AAP

Explainer: how our understanding of risk is changing

Robert Hoffmann, RMIT University; Adrian R. Camilleri, RMIT University

People aren't the perfectly rational, number-crunching risk-takers that traditional theory suggests. Research shows a whole variety of factors feed into risk-taking.

Education

shutterstock.

A matter of trust: the checks and balances schools must have to ensure fair funding for disability

Kate de Bruin, Monash University; Umesh Sharma, Monash University

Some of Victoria's wealthiest private schools have reported spikes in numbers of students with disability. We should only trust those numbers if they're moderated by qualified staff.

HELP repayment arrangements have long term consequences for students and their families. Shutterstock

Five things senators (and everyone else) should know about changes to HELP debts

Mark Warburton, University of Melbourne

Senators should consider how repayment thresholds vary depending on family circumstances, the impacts on taxes and how long students will be saddled with debt.