It is with much regret I state the #metoo movement has failed in its original objective.
Like almost every other social or political campaign in this decade, it has fallen victim to radicalism and opportunism from individuals seeking to fulfill a personal agenda, with those people brandishing something with name recognition only to betray its very purpose.
To put it in plain terms: people are taking advantage of others’ desire to bring about much-needed protection for women. This is not okay.
Considering many people will read only the headline of this article and resign themselves to calling me a sexist and rapist-apologist, I would like to go ahead and clear the air.
The #metoo movement started as one of the most overdue shifts in American priorities I have seen in my lifetime, and while it has accomplished a great deal of good and helped countless women from sexual abuse, it has simply become overshadowed by women using it to gain attention, money or revenge. As a result of these deplorable people, both sexes are suffering greatly.
Men are now afraid to compliment women in any way, touch them even in acceptable situations or afraid to simply be alone with women at all. Doing any of these opens the door for a false sexual harassment claim, which will permanently ruin their reputations even if the claim is proven false, which is an uphill battle in the first place considering our society immediately jumps to the defense of the woman before any facts are brought to the table. We are constantly having to watch ourselves around women we do not know because in today’s climate, one bold liar is all it takes to have our lives in shambles.
We are scared to initiate sexual conversation or the deed itself because the line between creeping someone out and sexually assaulting them is getting thinner by the day. For the proverbial cherry on top, bringing up these very concerns is taboo in many cases as we will then be dismissed as feeding the system and fighting for rapists. Thankfully, many women are beginning to realize the effect it has on innocent men.
According to a Vox and Morning Consult survey, 63 percent of women surveyed were concerned about false allegations, as reported by Anna North of Vox. It is critical women understand the situation #metoo has placed innocent men in, and while I find 63 percent to be better than I was expecting, it is also disturbingly low if it is not on the rise.
Of course, men are not the only victims here, and it is almost worse that an idea meant to protect women and give them a platform to have a voice is instead replacing one handicap with another. Sure, it is much riskier to sexually harass or assault a woman these days, and this is undoubtedly a good thing. However, the price women pay for this extra security is skepticism and an arms-length approach by men in dealing with them both professionally and personally.
Due to the false allegations, men now see fit to protect themselves by staying away from women entirely, especially in the workplace. This results in fewer opportunities for women and a flat-out refusal to work with them out of fear.
To help prove this point, Katherine Tarbox of HBR outlines what she sees in finance since the #metoo explosion.
“In the aftermath of the MeToo movement around sexual harassment, I wonder how much progress we’ve really made; recently, several men have privately told me that they have no intention of hiring women for open roles, or of managing young women if they can avoid it,” Tarbox explains.
This same article also claims many male managers are requiring women to directly report to other women, so there is no room for a conflict. All of this is making it even harder than it already is for women to advance in America, as their coworkers and bosses are starting to avoid them like the plague, and it even extends to social interactions. How does this help women?
I believe we as a society should always give women an open channel to point out wrongdoings, but we need to come together and tackle these situations objectively and with an open mind. I understand the need to protect victims and punish aggressors, but the way #metoo is accomplishing it is no longer viable. If it does not change soon, everyone will pay the price.
Categories:
The problematic nature of the #metoo movement
0
Donate to The Reflector
Your donation will support the student journalists of Mississippi State University. Your contribution will allow us to purchase equipment and cover our annual website hosting costs.
More to Discover