You've probably heard of the ultra-chic gift bags that the Oscar attendees are given each year. Forbes reports that this year's bag from company Distinctive Assets is valued at over $100,000 — so much that celebs must report the swag as income to the IRS. Everything the bags contain is donated by various companies hoping to have their name associated with hot nominees. This year, the bags include a 12-night Tanzania vacation valued at $12,000, $330 luxury false lashes, and "stylish" pepper spray from a company called PepperFace, whose catchphrase is "stay safe in style." Most of their products cost $27, or you can opt for a bedazzled version for $125.
According to a press release, the decision to include pepper spray is reportedly in response to the #MeToo movement, which gained steam in Hollywood following revelations of serial sexual abuse by Hollywood royalty such as Harvey Weinstein. For those at risk for sexual assault, learning self-defense or carrying pepper spray can feel empowering and may come in handy during an attack. However, plopping some high-end pepper spray into a gift bags isn't going to fix the problem. A valid criticism of the #MeToo movement is that it forces survivors to relive their trauma in the hopes that their story will raise awareness and educate abusers and thus squash the problem.
Statistically, studies show the majority of perpetrators of sexual violence are white male acquaintances (hi, Harvey). Society, including the Academy, must force such demographics to educate themselves and take responsibility for their actions, rather than placing the burden of a solution on those at risk (women and trans folks are at the highest risk for sexual violence, RAINN reports).
In the Academy's defense, since the #MeToo movement, Weinstein (whose films have won 81 Oscars over the years), has been kicked out of the Academy. Per the Forbes article, the company that creates the gift bags is also not associated with the Oscars and the Academy does not pick the items, so the inclusion of the pepper spray was not their choice. In addition, other male stars accused of sexual misconduct, such as James Franco, have been snubbed, and this year, Rachel Morrison is the first women ever nominated for best cinematography for Mudbound.
Additionally, Lady Bird's Greta Gerwig is the first woman to be nominated for Best Director for her debut film. It's up against Get Out, directed by Jordan Peele, (both films are also nominated for Best Picture) demonstrating the Academy is hopefully finally interested in celebrating films made by writers and directors who aren't white men. Yet, we have a long way to go. Since the awards first aired in 1929 only one woman has ever won that esteemed category — Kathryn Bigelow for The Hurt Locker — and only seven have been nominated.
Still, though the Academy didn't choose the item, more work needs to be done within the industry and the answer is not giving away flashy pepper spray that puts the onus on at-risk populations.
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