Three months after news of the Harvey Weinstein sex scandal broke, its momentum hasn’t abated. An abusive expression of power has been answered with a far better kind of clout: that of women going on the record. Of responsible reporting – in this case, The New York Times and The New Yorker digging out long-elusive documents and evidence. Of refusing to let an essential conversation fade away. 

At the Monitor, our discussions have homed in on the power imbalance between women and men. Around the world, harassment is just one manifestation of its consequences. So our correspondents have dug into efforts to address entrenched obstacles. For the next several weeks, we'll share what they’ve found as they’ve reported from a wide range of datelines – including Mexico City; Reykjavik, Iceland; Harare, Zimbabwe; Istanbul, Turkey; Tel Aviv; Kabul, Afghanistan; Jaipur, India; and Seoul, South Korea.

We have strived not to impose a “Western ideal” as we report on progress. We've taken note of eye-catching trends: the desire in postconflict societies, for example, to get more women’s voices in government. We note as well the disagreements: Catherine Deneuve and other actresses this week condemned the French version of #MeToo, saying it risks turning into a “hatred of men and sexuality.” 

But around the world, many see this moment as a crossroads. They harbor hope it’s one where the mentality of “if you gain, I lose” can be jarred loose. We hope you’ll join us on this journey, and share your thoughts as we go.

Now to our five stories, the second of which kicks off "Reaching for Equity: a global series on gender and power."