Hash Tag Me Too

Me too - one of the hot topics revolving around the social media is the recent sensational breaking news. The Twitter, Facebook and Instagram which were so far used to glitterize the celebrities are now used to tear off the fake masks worn by them. Be it political leaders or cine celebrities or sports giants, hashtag me too did not spare any industry.

What Me Too is all about:
Me too is a campaign throwing light on the sexual harassment, using the widespread social media, undergone by victims, especially in the work environment. The core of me too is not new to the society because sexual harassments and abuses are among the structural evils of the society dated centuries ago. When I say sexual assault, many may get a notion that it is all about women because the intensity of such abuses are high among women but in reality, men are equally affected, which should also be counted.

This ever happening issue recently gained its momentum when American actress Alyssa Milano tweeted about the topic and opened up a platform for the victims of sexual harassments to share their bitter incidents and the trauma they underwent. This is to make the society understand how big the issue is and not to get used to it and keep it aside as how it is being dealt so far. Unexpectedly it turned out to be a huge success and it was like opening a pandora box , digging out the dark sides of many high profile personalities worldwide.

Reception and response in India:
Even though the fire on Me too was lit way back in 2017, it got popularized in India only this year when Tanushree Dutta dare to speak about the harassment she undergone at the earlier days of her career. Following this spark, many stunning realities about familiar and celebrated faces came in front of the public. While few were denied, few accepted their fault and felt sorry for misbehaving, but it is of very negligent ratio. Many accusations are still left unanswered.

The most striking thing about this issue is the response it gained from the netizens. Expected still disgusting reactions started flowing majorly. Firstly, the victim who gained all courage and stepped forward to expose the harasser was cruelly questioned about their silence so far and why they did not open up at the time of its happening. Secondly, the victims were criticized and made to face character assassination, even went to the extent of damaging their kins.

Thirdly, may be the allegations are true or false but most of the people are not even ready to take it into account because the list of harassers holds the names of their favourite celebrities and they blindly rely on them.They just label it as mere publicity stunt. Last and most disheartening response is that when people say that such incidents are common in any industry, people enter such industries knowing its dark truth and the victims are aware of the consequences, so they do not have any rights to accuse such mishappenings.

The way it should be handled:
Me too campaign is a boon to many victims to voice out their bad experiences for which they did not had any popular stage so far. Few of the accusations may be false allegations but on that case, any law of the land can be misused but it does not mean that we should stop enforcing laws. Thousand culprits may escape but not even a single innocent should be punished is the tagline of our judicial system. Only thorough investigations will show the clear picture of such accusations.

Instead of getting deep into the roots of the issue, generalizing it as cheap publicity stunt or politicising it for self benefits is not the right way to receive it. Many feel that such issues are to divert the public’s attention from other news happening around and mark it as ‘unwanted bubbles’. They are forgetting that such campaigns are not only for celebrities or famous personalities but it is high time to turn towards their family members and lend ears to listen to such stories if they have faced any.

Short analysis on the issue
First of all the various dimensions of the problem should be analyzed. Foremost thing to be noticed is that sexual harassments are not gender based. Both men and women are affected by this, so the solutions should be focussing on both genders. The next thing is about the environment where such misbehaviours take place. It may be household or work space. In most of the times , in households the offenders turn out to be the closest relatives or people who we keep in the trust circle.

In work space, it may be the higher officials or the co-workers with whom the victims have to spend the most potential part of their day. It starts with stalking and then continues with sexual remarks where by indirectly indicating to offer sexual favours and finally ends up in forcing physically, even leading to murder. Rarely victims voice out their issues because the offenders mostly target vulnerable people who are locked emotionally or financially, so that they do not offer much resistance and bend in front of force.

Legal avenues to solve it:
Sexual abuse itself is a worst social evil where such assaults carried over on the children are so pathetic. When the grown ups feel shy to talk about this issue, children are in a delicate situation of not even understanding what actually is happening to them. Most of the child abuse is executed by the close circle where out of fear or bonding, children tend to shut their mouth tight. Protection of Children from Sexual Offence Act 2012 deals particularly with the abuses faced by children with a special concentration.

Domestic violence Act 2005 is the boon to the women facing such assaults in households. Even the husbands are not spared under this act where if he forces his wife physically without her consent is considered as rape and charged under the same. The office going women are vulnerable to face such issues both at households and work space. To protect these women, honourable supreme court promulgated Vishaka guidelines under which not only the act of sexual abuse but even approaching with such intentions are also taken into account and the offenders are charged and punished.

Steps to be implemented
Regarding child abuse, people should have proper knowledge on parenting so that they provide enough space and courage to the children to complaint about any mishappenings they undergo. Periodical discussions with children and teaching of ‘Good touch Bad touch’ and to identify the real safer circle for the children are must. Children are the future of the society. If they are given such strength today, then they will face the situations boldly in future thus escaping from this evil.

More awareness are to be spread among the women to bravely voice out their problems and more importantly not to get lock in the family attachment or prestige issue. In work place, the responsibility of protection of female workers falls on the employer. They are obliged to create a Complaints committee under senior female worker to redress the grievances of the female workers. These committees are linked with the local women police station to carry out the charges.

What else can be done
Prevention is better than cure. Instead of taking measures after when such incidents have happened, it is better to avoid such evils. Socialisation done by the parents right from the infant stage, shapes the qualities of any child. Educated parents should take these issues seriously and come forward to make their kids sit under periodical counsellings and try to know the nature they have imbibed. Children learn what they see, so parents should be cautious in their habits especially in front of the kids. This helps in development of a healthy adult in future.

In the societal level, people should broaden their mindset to first listen to the sufferings of the victims. Generalising the issue or prejudicing it, both are equally wrong and definitely not the right way to solve the issue. If the allegations are found to be wrong, the persons who posed it can be punished but what if the things turn out to be true. Me too campaign is not about demanding justice or to degrade anyone personally, but it is to expose the offenders so that they feel ashamed in front of the public and feel sorry for their behavior and most importantly they don’t repeat it in future, thus saving many innocents from being trapped.

The ever increasing list of Me too makes us end up in asking You too? Such shocking revelations are happening everyday. Way to go and more to come. Let us deal with it once for all !

WRITTEN BY SOCIAL AUTHOR: PRABHA KATHAMUTHU
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