‘This has been a long time coming’
#MeToo is a phenomenon that appears ready to become a movement, say two University of Victoria professors with experience in the issues of sex, power, harassment and violence.
Marsha Runtz, a clinical psychologist, and Annalee Lepp, of the department of gender studies, say #MeToo seems to be an early step in something bigger and is gathering momentum.
“I don’t think you can stop it at this point,” said Runtz, whose work looks at victimization within relationships.
She said #MeToo should become a conversation beginning with how boys and men are socialized. It can progress to a discussion of how we in society react as everyday witnesses to inappropriate personal behaviour, particularly inappropriate sexual behaviour.
“What does it mean about our responsibility as a society to acknowledge these stories and prevent future such events?” she asked.
“How do we encourage people to speak up, not necessarily to a public Twitter account, but to people in their everyday lives?”
Lepp, who was active in the writing of UVic’s code on sexualized violence, said she considers a huge initial element of the #MeToo campaign is the very public scope of the problem.
The millions of social-media posts mean sexual harassment and violence can no longer be explained as “one bad apple” acting poorly.
“It’s really important now that everyone become part of the movement, if it does indeed become a movement, where men start having conversations around themselves about masculinity,” said Lepp. “Any movement going forward should take the pro-social, preventive approach.”
#MeToo in its most recent and high-profile moment was generated as a response to the allegations of sexual abuse levelled by Hollywood women at movie executive Harvey Weinstein. It has mushroomed into a worldwide phenomenon, with women, and some men, reporting abuse, mostly at the hands of men.
#MeToo was initially created by African-American feminist Tarana Burke about 10 years ago to give young people a safe opportunity discuss their own lives.
Runtz said on a personal, psychological level, #MeToo has granted a safe chance for people to open up about past experiences that otherwise might have stayed buried.
“This has been a long time coming, and it’s good to see many people speaking out,” she said.
Even if people are not comfortable being public with their experiences online, they might now be willing to discuss experiences with therapists, counsellors, family members or trusted friends.
Also, it’s time for everyone to start talking and taking responsibility. “How do we stand up for others, how can we not turn a blind eye when someone is in danger?” asked Runtz.
“It is a societal issue, how people and women are treated.”
Lepp said she hopes the #MeToo phenomenon can lead to a new culture where all relationships are based on the twin notions of respect and consent.
“The aim going forward should be about creating environments where consent and respect are the fundamental ethics of participating in a particular community,” she said.
“May I shake your hand? May I give you a hug? May I touch your shoulder?”