If 2017 could be summed up in one hashtag, #metoo might be it. This movement has given a voice to women around the country and world. It has toppled scores of powerful and wealthy men beginning with Harvey Weinsten. It has forced employers to re-evaluate and re-examine their policies and training regarding sexual harassment.
Most importantly, the movement has jump-started the much needed conversations that we should all be having: sexual harassment and sexual assault in and outside the workplace.
How will this movement progress in 2018? Will it succeed in cementing a greater voice to women? Will women be able to enjoy a safer work environments, greater whistleblower protections and increased opportunity for employment/promotion?
The #metoo movement will have to meet several essential criteria in 2018 if it wants to finish what it started. Taken too far, the expected backlash will only succeed in hurting women and set the clocks back on the gender gap women currently face in working America.
The first thing that must be avoided is to treat all cases of sexual harassment as equal — they're not.
It would be safe to assume the majority of Americans would say a lewd sexual comment in the workplace is not the same as forceful rape. While both are wrong, there is a difference.
Let me be clear: distinguishing the difference between two wrongful acts does not in anyway excuse the act. Murder and theft are both illegal and punishable under the law. The severity of the punishments vary because of the inherent differences of the acts.
The #metoo movement will not benefit if it wholly adopts Minnie Driver opinion. She stated to the Guardian that men, “simply cannot understand what abuse is like on a daily level” and as a result are incapable of explaining or telling the differences of sexual harassment and assault.
In clear cases like Weinstein, Spacey and Louis C.K., the majority of men will stand with women in denouncing such acts. Experience is not a prerequisite for sympathy; I don't have to be a victim of rape or harassment to understand that it's wrong or be able to sympathize with the victim. If that weren't true, every juror and judge in a murder trial would not be allowed to participate unless they themselves had lost an acquaintance to murder.
To alienate (good) men in such a manner will not advance the movement to the levels it needs to go. It will take both men and women sharing their opinions and concerns if this cultural change is to have any lasting affects.
In line with my first point, the adoption of a "zero-tolerance" policy as a reaction to the #metoo movement will lead to unnecessary backlash. NBC recently enacted a zero-tolerance policy that also includes people who witness sexual harassment but don't report it. Employees can now be fired on the word of third-parties and not the accusers themselves. This will lead to a high-stress work environment, high levels of paranoia, and encourages malicious intent in terms of eliminating advancement obstacles i.e., getting your boss fired so you can have their job.
These kinds of policies didn't work well in the school systems, where a kindergartner was expelled for shooting his finger like a gun too many times; so why would they work in the workplace? Zero-tolerance should be more for "don't yell 'bomb' on an airplane" sort of thing.
Finally, if #metoo is taken too far, it will ultimately hurt the women it is meant to help. If a misunderstanding or inappropriate conversation outside the workplace is grounds to ruin a career to the same degree as sexual assault, backlash will occur. Employers will limit their hiring of women for fear of future sexual harassment or sexual assault claims. I'm not saying this is right in any way, but as reactionary as humans are it will happen.
#Metoo has a real opportunity this new year to make some big changes to corporate America and our culture. Men and women are going to have to work together if any lasting effects will result. All opinions, concerns and hopes matter. Men shouldn't be shut out of the conversations, they should be a part of it.
