The backlash against the #metoo movement has begun, and while I can see how the aim and method can be exploited, and believe in some instances it has been, I still think its right, and very important to support it. And no, I do not believe, “every man is in danger” because of it.
#MeToo is a movement that’s doing something shocking in our age of blurred lines; it’s sending out clear messages that sexual abuse and harassment aren’t right or acceptable. The line between okay and not okay isn’t as thin as critics seem to feel it is. It’s time and it’s necessary, that clear messages be sent to society, men and future men.
We live in a world where rape culture is normalized, woman and girls need to work on not being raped and harassed. We need to be a world where men don’t rape and harass, and future men are raised with clearly defined mores and guidelines in regard to sexual conduct and behaviors.
It’s not extreme or harmful to say it’s wrong to be a predator, and women should be able to expect correct behavior from men. Unfortunately, in real life, this isn’t the case. With women and men in the media and social media, protesting the right of women to tell the truth and their stories, and the law being largely unable to help, what’s the message and recourse for women? Smile, shut up and take it? Forgive and forget? Ignore if it happens to others? I don’t think so. That’s not right, not for women, for girls or for our society.
#MeToo is a change, and it’s a good one. I think its a big step forward for feminism and is giving women the power that they haven’t had in society, or the courts. There is no point in pitying the men in these cases. Most will survive, and possibly with time come out of it wiser, and hopefully better. What I think we need to do now, is care that the women who come forward, and those who cannot, will also survive, thrive and win.
The criticism, whatever guise it’s under, is the same old stuff. Blame the victim and undermine the public’s ability to decided fact from fiction. Basically #metoo is taking complaints to the court of public opinion, and perhaps it is, in these cases, a more empowered and able court of law and change. In life, just believing in a cause & a status quo is not enough, often you need to create it. It’s through action that positive change is created. When the action is women speaking up against sexual abuse & harassment for the purpose of ending it, why oppose it?
Unlike the newly prevailing attitude in the media, no, not every man is under threat because of #metoo reportage. The only ones who need to worry are those who cross important sexual boundaries & societal mores. This will not affect a great deal of the male population, and it will help all women as well. It’s trying to end rape culture and normalized sexual misconduct, and that’s the purpose that critics of the movement seem to have missed.
We live in a new world where most of the lines & mores we grew up with (Generation X and older) are blurred or nonexistent. Its up to us to redraw, reaffirm, erase & create our new lines. The lines of sexual behavior are definitely in need of clarification, redrawing, and reaffirming.
Ending sexual violence and harassment is a job that requires action. Our society, men, and future men need to learn appropriate sexual behavior. To silence and try to end it, is wrong and harmful to society. Either we want to end sexual abuse or we don’t, and if it requires calling out men, who engaged in it, so be it. Being nice and silent has not ended rape, abuse, and sexual harassment. It’s time to speak up and support those who do.
