#MeToo
Yes.
It is all over our phones and tabs and laptops. Like an avalanche. Relief and discomfort, at the same time.
I am not really shocked or surprised to see so many of my girlfriends and women acquaintances posting this on their walls. I am sure we all have discussed this within our circle of girls.
I say girls because this discussion began right from our school days and continues well and beyond. Some cheap guy on the roadside or some crazy stalker during our daily commute or that creepy relative in the family or some pervert in the office or now, thanks to the social media where one can hide behind anonymity and send cheap messages online, it just gets darker.
It is being spoken out loudly now. One of the boons of social media is that we can make ourselves heard to highlight the right cause. Creating a widespread awareness in this matter has been long overdue. The solidarity shown by so many women and men just proves that it is prevalent just about everywhere. This is not for male-bashing, per se. This is more for raising hands rather than pointing fingers, to find comfort in knowing that you are not alone.
The first and foremost step is that the victim must know that it wasn’t her fault. We must keep communication channels open since the beginning with our sisters, daughters, wives, girlfriends for them to confide in us. Sometimes, a little empathy can go a long way to mend a broken soul. That is where the healing starts.
Having said all this, I would like to add that not all men are on the dark side. Some still have the decency to respect women the same way they would expect others to respect theirs – be it their wife, girlfriend, sister or mother. May their tribe increase.
Men and women, both have the social and moral obligation to speak up and stand up against any assault that they witness. We must remember that not taking sides is as good as choosing the wrong side. It merely encourages the wrong-doer to continue his misdoings. It makes you as guilty as the offender if you choose to be a silent witness.
Together, we can and we must. Time to fight back. Time to empower the next generation. Time to adopt a zero tolerance policy against gender-based assault.
I am not really shocked or surprised to see so many of my girlfriends and women acquaintances posting this on their walls. I am sure we all have discussed this within our circle of girls.
I say girls because this discussion began right from our school days and continues well and beyond. Some cheap guy on the roadside or some crazy stalker during our daily commute or that creepy relative in the family or some pervert in the office or now, thanks to the social media where one can hide behind anonymity and send cheap messages online, it just gets darker.
It is being spoken out loudly now. One of the boons of social media is that we can make ourselves heard to highlight the right cause. Creating a widespread awareness in this matter has been long overdue. The solidarity shown by so many women and men just proves that it is prevalent just about everywhere. This is not for male-bashing, per se. This is more for raising hands rather than pointing fingers, to find comfort in knowing that you are not alone.
The first and foremost step is that the victim must know that it wasn’t her fault. We must keep communication channels open since the beginning with our sisters, daughters, wives, girlfriends for them to confide in us. Sometimes, a little empathy can go a long way to mend a broken soul. That is where the healing starts.
Having said all this, I would like to add that not all men are on the dark side. Some still have the decency to respect women the same way they would expect others to respect theirs – be it their wife, girlfriend, sister or mother. May their tribe increase.
Men and women, both have the social and moral obligation to speak up and stand up against any assault that they witness. We must remember that not taking sides is as good as choosing the wrong side. It merely encourages the wrong-doer to continue his misdoings. It makes you as guilty as the offender if you choose to be a silent witness.
Together, we can and we must. Time to fight back. Time to empower the next generation. Time to adopt a zero tolerance policy against gender-based assault.
From survivor to survivor.
From #MeToo to #WeWillFightBack
Comments
Post a Comment