The Metoo hashtag was an eye-opener for the world, as people across the globe spoke about their personal experiences. The intention of the hashtag was to encourage women to speak up, and it shifted as soon as people realised that the case was not isolated to a particular sex, and even men encountered sexual harassment. Akrit Noel Michael, a student of Christ University in the city, says, “My intention with the hashtag was to create awareness among my social media circles that men too face physical harassment. Males are often felt up or molested by other guys, in the guise of accepted machismo behaviour and homosexual instincts. It received an almost completely positive feedback, but I still feel the MeToo campaign hasn’t caught much traction on the male side of the spectrum.”
Speaking for all sexes, Ashwin H, an events coordinator says, “It started out as a trend for women but then the anti hashtag came up and people started realising that there are men out there as well who have faced similar trauma. There is no point in being a feminist if you don’t see the other side as well. I saw the hashtag as something for men, women and others. I've had situations where I was uncomfortable but there’s a lot of hypocrisy when a guy talks about it. I personally got a lot of hatred for my post online as it was perceived as insensitive by certain people. I don’t believe the campaign will make a drastic change. All genders have equal rights and there seems to be a lot of talk among our generation but very less action.”
But perhaps, men jumping on the Metoo bandwagon took the spotlight away from the ladies? Rajesh Umadevi, a human rights activist adds, “There are reported instances of boys facing sexual harassment and this is not uncommon. But I didn’t want to make the connection to the Metoo campaign as it brings the power dynamics to play. It takes away the space Metoo created for women to speak up and I think for one day, the guys can keep quiet.”
Skewed views on this campaign were inevitable but there is hope for all, as any movement for the sexes inevitably becomes an appeal for equality. Sneha Varghese, an architecture student, doesn’t think that the anti-hashtag impaired the essence of the campaign, “The point of the campaign has been, in my opinion, to spread awareness on the magnitude and extent of sexual violence and an important aspect of the problem is that it’s not gender specific. I think a man opening up augments this understanding. Also, it benefits the discourse by implying that there is nothing feeble in talking about or opening up about experiences you have undergone.”
