There’s more to #MeToo

W omen who faced sexual abuse in the workplace have come out to express themselves with the #MeToo hashtag. However, the sexual abuse, women and girls suffer within their own homes is not discussed much yet. This is more serious than workplace abuse because workplace abuse can be avoided, at least to some extent, by stern actions. But abuses in the homes are not so.

Especially in countries like India where joint families are still considered sacred, female members often suffer at the hands of close male relatives like uncles, cousins, stepfathers, brothers-inlaw, fathers-in-law and even grandfathers! Other family members of the abused girls cannot or do not raise their voice about it despite knowing that this abuse is taking place. They are concerned how it would affect the family unity, reputation and family values. They have to suffer in silence.

When the women restrict their advances or threaten to expose them, it turns into domestic violence and the culprits sometimes even go to the extreme level of murdering the victim. Many such incidents have taken place in India. The surviving victims carry a lot of mental trauma, which seriously affects their future life. Abusers in workplaces could be exposed and punished one day, but abusers within families never get punished.

Also, just exposing and discussing sexual abuse and harassment is not enough. Girls and women should be taught how to identify sexual advances and stop them and to come out openly about the abuse. This would immediately save many others in the family or in the workplace from abuse. Fear of losing life or career keeps them silent. They should be taught to face it strategically.