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Connect the dots of TV and feminism to American culture and politics with host Cynthia Bemis Abrams. Interviews with top names - in front of and behind the scenes - offer insights into TV that has shaped American culture and influenced the world. Check out episodes with actors Annie Potts, Margaret Cho, Stepfanie Kramer of Hunter, Kim Fields of Facts of Life and Living Single, and daytime's Cady McClain.  Television veteran writers Georgia Jeffries, Victoria Riskin and April Smith are featured in episodes that explain storytelling as a writing craft. These discussions will forever change how you watch TV. Explore issues of race through interviews with academics Robin Means-Coleman and Charlene Regester, and influencer Karly Beaumont. Ever since the #MeToo Movement of 2017-18, Cynthia has highlighted key episodes and events surrounding sexual harassment - fictional and real life.  With listeners around the world, Cynthia celebrates the progress of representation in media and captures the stories and insights that make TV a powerful storyteller and mirror of truth. In 2025, Cynthia started revealing more about the book she and a colleague are writing. Subscribe to our monthly newsletter at www.tvherstory.com. Promise,  your data will never be sold.
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  2. I Still Believe Anita Hill: The Impact of 1991 Senate Hearings

I Still Believe Anita Hill: The Impact of 1991 Senate Hearings

Sep 21, 2019

Host Cynthia Bemis Abrams revisits Anita Hill’s groundbreaking testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee in 1991. Before the #MeToo movement and the widespread conversations about workplace harassment, Hill’s testimony ignited national discussions about power, credibility, and gender dynamics in politics.

This refreshed episode from 2016 explores how Hill’s testimony changed the landscape for women in the workplace and public life. Cynthia provides historical context on Robert Bork’s earlier Supreme Court nomination, the role of key political figures like Joe Biden and Arlen Specter, and the parallels between Hill’s experience and the 2018 Brett Kavanaugh hearings.

Join Cynthia as she examines what has changed in the conversation about sexual harassment, the ongoing impact of Hill’s activism, and the role of media in shaping public perception.
 

The episode examines the long-term impact of Anita Hill’s 1991 testimony, including:

  • How Hill’s public stand against Clarence Thomas shaped discussions around workplace harassment.
  • The Senate hearings as a precursor to modern #MeToo reckonings.
  • The role of CSPAN and television in exposing the hearings to millions before the era of social media.
  • Political figures involved in the hearings, including Joe Biden and Arlen Specter.
  • Parallels between Hill’s testimony and the Brett Kavanaugh hearings.

Drawing from Hill’s memoirs and historical accounts, this episode reflects on the evolving public discourse around sexual harassment and power.

Episode Life Lessons
  • Media matters – The televised hearings changed the way Americans saw power and harassment.
  • History repeats itself – The issues from 1991 resurfaced in the 2018 Kavanaugh hearings.
  • Courage inspires change – Hill’s bravery paved the way for future conversations about workplace misconduct.
Referenced Historical Events:
  • 1991 Senate Confirmation Hearings
  • Robert Bork’s Supreme Court Nomination
  • Brett Kavanaugh’s Confirmation Hearings
Resources:
  • Race, Gender and Power in America: The Legend of the Hill-Thomas Hearings – Emma Coleman Jordan (1995)
  • Speaking Truth to Power – Anita Hill (1997)