When I first read the article about #MeToo and why women were posting it on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, etc... I thought it was so inspiring… so moving… so powerful.
Then, I took a step back and thought: “Why is this about the victims and not the abusers who are the problem?” It was with that first thought, that I really started thinking about the whole issue of the #MeToo movement.
I was one of the girls who said #MeToo on Facebook for the world to see.
I wanted to be a part of the message that many girls, who you might never even have thought about, had suffered from sexual harassment and abuse. It’s disgusting that this is happening, and while there are some instances such as being cat-called or whistled at that I don’t consider sexual harassment, the fact of the matter is that some men go too far and make women purposely feel uncomfortable because they get a thrill out of it.
It's sickening.
The time that stands out in my mind of me being sexually abused was this guy I used to date didn't know when to stop.
I said no, and he didn’t care.
That is my story, and I won’t go into detail because I think that the point of the #MeToo movement is to promote stronger laws, more security and putting it into all men’s mind that acting that way is not okay. Continuing to go when someone says stop is not okay. Following a girl on the street is not okay. Smacking her ass is not okay.
I could go on forever.
I’m not a feminist. I don’t preach on misogyny or whatever many women do because I believe that a woman can be anything she wants and a man shouldn't have a say in those decisions.
I believe if you are strong enough to do something you will get there. And I will say this: most men do what they want because they feel like they can and they get a thrill out of it.
Do all men? NO. Absolutely not.
I don’t believe in lumping all men into that category, but there are many men out there who feel that they can, which is why they do just that. We have to put a stop to the idea that men can treat anyone however they please without repercussions.
To all the women out there who have the courage to tell their story - please don’t stop. I am not bashing this movement in any way, I just believe that there is so much focus on the victims and no focus on the abusers. We need justice and the only way to get it is to fight for it. So, don’t stop fighting. Do more than typing behind a computer screen, because abusers get off on fear. They find a thrill in women being the victim.
Go out there. Fight. Be strong.
