#MeToo.
The hashtag speaks volume about the unsaid stories of sexual harassment.
Millions of the women have spoken out on the Internet with this hashtag, rolling out a debate on harassment they have ever faced with. The number of the women coming up with #MeToo is scandalously and shamelessly shocking, which the Harvey Weinstein saga unfolded in Hollywood. More than 50 women, including top Hollywood starlets, who are considered very influential all over the world, have shared their sexual harassment ordeals at the hand of the infamous director. Soon, women from all over the world joined the Twitter trend.
But that is the tip of the iceberg as this is what the women with an access to the Internet have spoken out; those having no presence on the Internet remain unheard, and it is an educated guess that every one of them has faced sexual harassment at some point in their life.
Civilization earned with the work of centuries seemingly has failed to challenge misogyny stemming from the patriarchal structure of society.
Every tale of sexual harassment has its own dimension. Factors like abuse of power, weaker laws to apprehend harassers, the notion that sexual harassment is not as such a crime and so on have been breeding the Weinsteins in every corner of the world. It is time to say them loud shut up and send them to a court of law. The social media campaign is just a starter, but it should not be confined to the virtual world. The real world predators should be confronted in the real world. It may not deter the Weisnteins of our part from going ahead with their designs, they should at least know that a sexual harassment complaint will be taken seriously.
Recently MNA Ayesha Gulalai hit the headlines.
She accuses her own party boss of pestering her with indecent messages.
Shame. Shame.Shame.
Instead of getting a compassionate and kind and thoughtful hearing from the media and party and assembly colleagues, she got a snub. Her complaint was rejected even by a majority of her own women colleagues. Shame. Pakistan is one such country where predatory instinct runs high in every sector from the film industry to campuses, hospitals, media and technological houses and services, political and social forums and on streets and farms and in bazaars …
Shame.
When this piece is being written, the TV screen is flashing the news of a sexual harassment complaint by a sportswoman against her coach.
Shame.
It is very easy to predict the fate of the complaint and the complainant. Her career will soon be over, and she will spend her life as a social outcast.
The moments of Ayesha Gulali and the sportswoman should be taken a watershed to initiate a debate on sexual harassment. Women should be encouraged to speak up, instead of looking the other way.
If you are a working woman, you have the office of the ombudsperson to redress your complaint.
If you are facing catcalling or harassment on the street or at home, press a smartphone App regarding women’s protection and police will readily be there to help you out.
The more complaints are there, the more pressure will be up on the legal system to deliver quick justice to the survivor. Soon, social and cultural norms will provide space to women. But it all will happen when women take a collective decision to snub the predators.
Take the step!
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