Roxy in the Box on #MeToo and Gender Inequality in the Italian Art World

In an interview with Artribune, artist Roxy in the Box offers her perspective on the #MeToo movement and gender disparities in the Italian art system. She notes that #MeToo was founded about ten years ago to support underpaid women of color working as cleaners, caregivers, and babysitters who faced sexual harassment. The movement gained global traction after the Harvey Weinstein case in October 2017, leading to the downfall of figures like Kevin Spacey, and later touching the art and fashion worlds with allegations against Chuck Close (whose exhibition at the National Gallery of Art was canceled), Mario Testino, and Terry Richardson. Roxy in the Box states that women in the Italian art world are not considered equal to men, citing her research on group exhibitions where the ratio is often 1 or 2 women to 10 men. She observes that curators and gallerists who predominantly select men often have female assistants solving their problems, calling the situation "boring and old" and reminiscent of the 1950s. Abroad, conditions improve, especially in Northern Europe and North America. Younger generations appear more respectful, but she questions whether that persists as they age. She hopes the revolution leads to a 50-50 balance and breaks the chain of male power perpetuating itself.