Don’t misuse MeToo movement
It is true that workplaces should be made safe for women. In India’s
MeToo movement, women are coming
forth with stories of sexual harassment. Tanushree Dutta’s allegations about
harassment at the hands of actor Nana Patekar has shocked many.
The MeToo hashtag gained currency a year ago in the U.S. when women came
out one after another to first corroborate allegations of sexual assault
against Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein. Many of the allegations are extremely
grave — for instance, against M.J. Akbar, a star editor who left journalism for
government, to become a Minister of State for External Affairs.
Despite that fact that the Me-Too movement in India is another nod to the
West, it would be churlish to deny its positive impact. Laws are leaning
towards the eventual realization that the human body is sacrosanct. The owner
of the body will decide what is best for him or her. This is a step in that
direction.
Much is expected from the society and the law to make our women folk
believe that their honor and safety is their biggest concern in every
circumstance without the element of any sort of their feeling being exploited
and ignored.
The situation is much worse in India in comparison to that in the USA.
Here the abuse of women, in general, and women in public domain, in particular,
is routine. Caste and Communal feelings make the situation really abominable.
In order to make women at workplace safe, parents should inculcate
respect for women among children.
But sexual accusations seem to be fashion in some cases to tarnish the
image of prominent people. What is of
more concern, is the outpouring against Journalists of repute, from the print
and electronic media. Even the NDTV has reported that two of its own staff
reported such an harassment and the channel just passed it off as a reference
only and not naming and shaming their own colleague, as they do against others.
In the workplace, especially in mass manufacturing units like in apparels
sector, small scale industries, exploitation of the women workforce at the
slightest opportunity, pose a greater danger than that prevailing in corporate
world.
The right to the presumption of innocence until proven guilty is among
the founding principles upon which many other significant legal protections
depend. Because rape and sexual assault are among the most brutal and degrading
crimes, accusations generate a degree of emotional fervour that makes the facts
underlying each accusation irrelevant for those involved. Appeals to due
process are viewed as “tricks” by lawyers. This could lead to lynch mob
behavior.
What if a woman alleges for her personal vendetta? Many of the men have
experiences of whimsical nature of some of the girls using the allegations of
stalking. That has also become a new normal. With such linen now being washed
in public, time has come for India to be at par with the developed world.
Laws must be gender neutral and the rise of METOO is more of a reflection
of war on men by these so called feminists who love harassing men in false
cases and even supreme court has called it a legal terrorism that women are
misusing the laws which were made to protect them. The main lacunae is the
damaging of the social and business reputation of a celebrity without any fault
on his side through me too platform. Even adultery may be brought to fore in
the name of 'me too' exposure. Even retaliation may be carried out by false
allegations. This must be stopped.
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