The Me Too movement is a movement that began in 2006 and gained a lot of attention in 2017 after allegations of sexual assault and harassment were made against Hollywood film producer Harvey Weinstein. It’s a good thing because it has helped to raise awareness about sexual violence and harassment, encouraged survivors to speak out and held perpetrators accountable.
We see and hear much about the “Me Too” movement in today’s media, but is it going too far? Wait, put that vase down before you throw it at me, and listen to what I have to say. It may even make some sense. No one is saying there are no legitimate perpetrators, but some potential perps may be confused by all the mixed signals currently displayed in the female gender. Again..put the vase down for a minute. As a male in fear of my “sexual harassment” life, I try to understand how women are defined in today’s world. On the one hand, I watch TV and see two women beating the holy heck out of each other, and no, not in a school board meeting over mask mandates, but inside of an octagon with spectators cheering them on. In another instance, I read that some female residents of Berkley, California, are suing the city to be able to go topless because men can. The epitome of sexual equality, I guess. Then I see the “Me Too” movement, wherein my latest view, I see a woman come forth after fifteen years and call out a male co-worker for squeezing her derrière. Remember that the gentleman (and I’m using that term loosely) apologized to both the woman and her husband, who was present during this act; apologies were accepted, and as hard as it may seem to believe, life moved on.
And this brings me to a whole new concept: context. Prevalent in today’s world is taking today’s mores and attitudes and supplanting them back in time. When you take an act from twenty years ago and inject it into today’s conscious awareness, you are doing what’s commonly known as taking it out of context. Anything taken out of context can take on a brand new meaning. As previously noted, there was a time in the not-too-distant past when a pat on the butt was taken as a compliment that didn’t necessarily mean anything else. Now I’m not talking about a squeeze or a slap. Those were considered inappropriate, just as they are now. So what happens when things are taken out of context? Well, confusion and misunderstanding, for sure! We see it happen every day in just about every facet of life, from politics to racism and, yes, of course, sexual harassment.
Remember the old saying: “A nod is as good as a wink”…well it seemingly has morphed…now it’s….” A nod is as good as a wink, as good as a pat, as good as a squeeze, and as good as sexual harassment. And also, let’s not forget that it happens the other way too. Several years ago, I was in the doctor’s office for pain management treatment. I had to shed my clothing and put on those ridiculous gowns, one backward and one frontward, and there I was, getting examined by a doctor of the opposite sex. Having been a competitive bodybuilder in my younger days, I still keep in good shape, especially for my age. During the exam, she made several positive comments about my physique. As the exam wound down and the doctor typed the notes, I sat quietly in the chair beside my folded clothes. Then, she turned to me and said it was OK to get dressed. I looked at her oddly as if to say, “No thanks, I’m not in that much of a hurry. I’ll wait for you to leave.” This occurred in 2016 before the Me Too movement had gotten the traction it has today. But let’s fast forward to today. A male doctor would be committing professional suicide if he were to tell a female patient that it was alright to get dressed while he was still in the room.
One of the good things about the movement is that it has raised awareness about the prevalence and impact of sexual violence and harassment. It has helped to dispel the myths and misconceptions surrounding these issues and highlighted the extent of the problem.
The movement has also empowered survivors to speak out and share their stories. The increased visibility of the issue has given survivors a platform to tell their stories and has helped to reduce the stigma associated with being a victim of sexual violence. This is good because many survivors may feel isolated or ashamed, and the Me Too movement has given them the courage to speak up and seek help.
However, the movement has also faced criticism for several reasons. One of those criticisms is that it may deny due process to accused individuals. In some cases, people have been accused and punished before a proper investigation was conducted. This could result in a negative impact on the accused’s life and reputation. While it’s important to take allegations of sexual harassment and assault seriously, it’s also essential to ensure that accused individuals receive a fair trial.
All said and done, the Me Too movement has significantly impacted raising awareness, empowering survivors, promoting accountability, and bringing about policy changes related to sexual harassment and assault. However, it has also been criticized for denying due process to the accused, potentially encouraging false accusations, promoting a negative perception of men, and overgeneralizing the issue. It is essential to recognize both the positive and negative aspects of the movement and work towards a more balanced and practical approach to addressing sexual violence and harassment.
