As pendulums do, they always swing as far one way as they do the other (well, nearly, as any physics teacher will tell you…) – and so, too, the #metoo phenomenon.
There was a time, a very short while ago, when women were routinely put through a horrible wringer before anyone would believe their claims of sexual misconduct, harassment, and even outright rape. Questions about THEIR intentions and actions leading to these disgraceful trespasses were leeringly posed by jaded legal representatives of all stripes, and the entire burden of proof for allegations of this nature were settled fully on the shoulders of the poor victims of some of the vilest defilements imaginable. The victim oftentimes became the criminal, and the criminal, the innocent to be protected.
Now the pendulum has finally found its way to a point where women are being LISTENED to when they call out these miserable pigs objectifying and exploiting them for their twisted sexual obsessions – and it’s about bloody time. For far too long, women have, by the merest dint of being attractive in any way, or by enjoying any of the latest flattering fashions, been BLAMED for the lack of any kind of mature control a “man” would require to display if he were to be considered a “gentle” man.
But, to be fair, this abhorrent norm is not just the fault of “men”. Society as a whole must bear the blame. It’s become far more important in our society for both men AND women to flout their “beauty” ahead of any “substance” they may be blessed with. This, of course, does NOT excuse this kind of behavior, but does explain it to a degree.
However, wrong as these crimes are, it seems that the pendulum has swung too far the other way. Things have gotten to a point where the unfortunate situation that existed for women when trying to convince authorities of the crimes perpetrated on them now seems to be mirrored in the situation men find themselves in today – that of guilty until proven innocent. These cases are now tried loudly and forcefully in public, and guilt is always assumed from the start. Add to that the partisan nature of current social discourse, and you have a situation where the “other” side WANTS these alleged perpetrators to be guilty for political expedience alone. All this is wrong – plain and simple.
If someone is legitimately found guilty of this slimy behavior, throw the book at them – maximum sentence and all. But at least find them guilty through a process that exhibits some degree of justice. An opportunity to defend oneself against these allegations should be allowed, and not before the court of public opinion, but a court of law. Now, it seems, the media has become our “police force” in that THEY are the ones these alleged crimes are being reported to first. Maybe this is just, in a way, as it seems that for far too long the powers able to bring justice to these women have been strikingly negligent in their duties. But it doesn’t mean that it’s right – the media is NOT a fair or proper judge and jury.
Reasons for this turnabout are manifest, but that it has turned is good. This behavior MUST stop, but these perpetrators MUST be fairly tried before being convicted of any crimes. And this, of course, is aside the fact that there ARE examples of women coming forward with stories like this for less than legitimate motives. How can we be expected to continue letting careers, and even lives, be ruined on simple hearsay?
I think that if this situation continues – this spontaneous assumption of guilt before due process – that pendulum I mentioned earlier may well swing back as severely the other way, and to a point where a kind of “Cry Wolf Syndrome” will take hold and where we’ll be back to having women be mercilessly grilled when they bring forth claims of sexual misconduct.
A step back needs to be taken here, and the situation coolly and logically assessed. This is the only way we can be certain of ensuring the continued protection of women from sexual predators in our society.
(The views expressed by contributors are their own and not the view of Randumb Thawts)