The #MeToo movement has gained substantial momentum in the past few weeks. It is encouraging to see scores of women calling out their harasser publicly. The #MeToo wave has hit the entertainment and media industry, taking down many known names.
However, many have ridiculed the movement and have been trying to trivialise the attempt of these women to speak up against sexual harassment. The sad part is that even some woman who call themselves ‘feminists’ are also doubting the intentions of the women who have come out. They term their #MeToo as an attempt to attract attention or get sympathy.
Social media, especially Twitter, is flooded with several hate comments trying to bring down the movement.
#MeTooIndia have come across some women who alleged assault at workspace to escape work, unworthiness, pressure & to gain sympathy, better role etc.
Sad, they alleged those who never had relationships with other women.
— ᗰₒ𝓱ₐ𝚗ₐ ᵥₐᵣᗰₐ (@mohanaper) October 9, 2018
Such people who do not understand the motive behind this movement should carefully listen what senior journalist Sagarika Ghose has to say.
Dear trapped men, liberate yourselves from patriarchy. Realise that humiliating women & flaunting power is simply not worth it. It destroys you. Try & achieve happy relationships of equality & love & respect. Much better way to be a happy human being. #MeTooIndia
— Sagarika Ghose (@sagarikaghose) October 9, 2018
Some want to make it like a witch-hunt by accusing that women are playing a victim card.
https://twitter.com/RajivGandhii/status/1049543541125337088
Some tweets reflect deep-rooted insecurity in men. I don’t know what makes them so insecure.
https://twitter.com/AMGKV/status/1049541535912480771
Many men in India don’t know how to approach a woman, ask her for a date or read her signs in understanding what they are intending to convey. Now, they are being defensive when a woman takes the courage to speak up sexual misconduct. This reminds me of Kerala minister PC George’s statement where he questioned the nun for keeping quiet about the alleged sexual harassment by the priest for 13 years. He even called her a ‘prostitute’.
The #MeToo movement, which started in America and took down famous Hollywood director Harvey Weinstein, has encouraged many women to call out their abusers/harassers.
While the movement was powerful in the west, it did not hit India that strongly, until recently. In India, the initial wave of #MeToo wasn’t very organised. We did see its glimpses after a Malayalam actress was attacked. But, it didn’t turn into a mass movement.