Where to Draw the #MeToo Line?

• Position: SEXUAL ASSAULT

Of the many stories in the news over the past few months involving well-known men committing sexual assault, few have been as controversial as the allegations against actor and comedian Aziz Ansari in an article in Babe.net in which his unnamed accuser describes a consensual encounter gone wrong.

In the piece, "Grace" uses the term sexual assault to describe what others, including most famously CNN correspondent Ashleigh Banfield, have characterized as a "bad date," Many on both sides of the #MeToo movement have taken to social media to express their belief that the crusade will lose steam if accusations like these are exaggerated at the expense of authentic assaults.

Loretta Brady, professor of psychology at Saint Anselm College, Manchester, N.H., says even though #MeToo supporters find themselves divided over the Ansari story, this is not the end of the undertaking. In fact, she indicates it is a natural course for such movements.

"Social media encourages brief exchanges, but they often start from polarized positions, working towards shared understanding. So, this social movement will experience the same type of rhythm on these platforms. We don't need to read into that normative rhythm as though there is no hope for cultural exploration and change."

According to Brady, there are many facets of structural sexism beyond the debate of what separates an assault from "just a bad date," but that does not mean #MeToo has gone too far.

"I am positive there are those who recognize that a cultural conversation about women's sexual safety, pleasure, agency, health, autonomy, and bodily integrity needs to happen even more.

"Historically, men have had more freedom to seek, enjoy, and expose their sexuality and interest. There was a time when a respected woman would never publicly...