The #MeToo Backlash.

AuthorHelms, Karla Jo
PositionWORDS IMAGES

SOME STUDIES CONCLUDE that as many as 17 in 20 women have experienced sexual harassment in the workplace, which may explain why the #MeToo movement quickly gained momentum last October--within the first 24 hours, the viral hashtag appeared in 12,000,000 Facebook posts. Yet, recent news stories reflect a growing backlash: some cite the potential damage of false accusations and decry the movement as a witch hunt, while others suggest that men's fear of harassment allegations will hurt women's career opportunities. I believe the current dynamic has hindered progress by dividing people into opposing camps--a unified strategy and a new narrative will prove the most-effective solution.

According to a report by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, sexual harassment may be more prevalent--and underreported--than many realize. EEOC data indicates that anywhere between 25% and 85% of women have experienced some form of sexual harassment at work, yet only six percent to 13% of those who have suffered harassment ever file a formal complaint Among those who did speak out against workplace mistreatment, 75% experienced some form of retaliation. These statistics help illustrate why the #MeToo movement resonated with so many, particularly among those who previously may have felt voiceless, powerless, disrespected, or disbelieved.

As for the backlash factions, one camp focuses on the dangers of false reports, which can ruin the lives of the falsely accused and challenge the credibility of all accusers. Yet, studies indicate false reports are rare, accounting for just two percent to seven percent of sexual assault cases.

Another group of dissenters includes dozens of women who co-signed a letter in the French newspaper Le Monde asserting that the #MeToo movement unfairly punishes men and threatens sexual liberty, though their arguments were rebutted swiftly in a reply from some 30 female activists.

A third counterpoint is based on reports from the political and financial sectors, where some say women are losing career ground because men are afraid to hire or work with them given the looming specter of harassment allegations.

The #MeToo movement certainly has been effective in raising awareness of sexual misconduct in the workplace--and that was needed, but without a new solution being proffered, other than penalizing the offenders, it now has moved to stoke fear, suspicion, and insecurity. Many males have reported feeling defensive because they...

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