The #metoo campaign
I've had some thoughts about the #metoo Campaign I want to share with you. Campaign is really a strange expression for this, but in the absence of something better, I’ll still use the term. Thoughts is really not the right word either, honestly, it’s rather a feeling of discomfort that I have tried to ignore, because what could be unpleasant with such an extremely important issue for all women and with such huge impact all over the world?
In order to clarify that I fully support the campaign, I want to announce that I became sexually abused and harrassed at an early age so I’m unfortunately familiar with everything about mental discomfort, loneliness and shame and guilt linked to this subject.
And this is what matters in relation to everything that's happening now, because now the feelings of shame and embarrassment finally gets out in the open and the women of the world unite in a: enough is enough! Just the insight that almost any women, regardless of generation, have been subjected to any kind of sexual harassment and that you're not alone is healing. Fear and frustration are no longer yours to wear alone, the shame no longer belongs to you. It is, and has always belonged to men.
So where do my discomfort come from? It's hard to explain, especially in a foreign language, so I hope you will get it right.
First of all one can discuss how to define sexual harassment, and I don’t mean rape or other serious violations but more subtle things that include power and sex. Can you rate them at all in any way when each experience is individual? Can you feel offended by a hand on your shoulder as consolation, or a slight stroke on the cheek, something that is meant solely as a sign of compassion and nothing else? It’s almost impossible to set limits when it comes to individual perceptions, but it must be some kind of rhyme and reason with it all.
But now to the very core of my thoughts which are related to how the #metoo campaign has developed, at least in Sweden. How big is the need for the perpetrator to be exposed in the media? Can you in some cases question the purpose? Can you in any means question anything in this campaign without being questioned about your own alleged commitment?
How honest are the most loud, out spoken women's sometimes excessively aggressive defense of the vulnerable women, their so called "sisters"? Those who have been silent up to now, even though they were in a better position to act, support or help? How interested are they of having a serious Communication about these issues with the other party, in this case the male part of humanity?
I get the feeling that a lot of people are losing focus in the media circus and that the necessity to point out individuals becomes more important than the structural issue. It is so important that this debate lives on, but in serious terms. If this develops into becoming just a blame and shame game or a feminist "happening", the debate about the basic problems will be forgotten sooner or later and it would be a shame, now when we finally have a proper grasp of the opposite gender....
In order to clarify that I fully support the campaign, I want to announce that I became sexually abused and harrassed at an early age so I’m unfortunately familiar with everything about mental discomfort, loneliness and shame and guilt linked to this subject.
And this is what matters in relation to everything that's happening now, because now the feelings of shame and embarrassment finally gets out in the open and the women of the world unite in a: enough is enough! Just the insight that almost any women, regardless of generation, have been subjected to any kind of sexual harassment and that you're not alone is healing. Fear and frustration are no longer yours to wear alone, the shame no longer belongs to you. It is, and has always belonged to men.
So where do my discomfort come from? It's hard to explain, especially in a foreign language, so I hope you will get it right.
First of all one can discuss how to define sexual harassment, and I don’t mean rape or other serious violations but more subtle things that include power and sex. Can you rate them at all in any way when each experience is individual? Can you feel offended by a hand on your shoulder as consolation, or a slight stroke on the cheek, something that is meant solely as a sign of compassion and nothing else? It’s almost impossible to set limits when it comes to individual perceptions, but it must be some kind of rhyme and reason with it all.
But now to the very core of my thoughts which are related to how the #metoo campaign has developed, at least in Sweden. How big is the need for the perpetrator to be exposed in the media? Can you in some cases question the purpose? Can you in any means question anything in this campaign without being questioned about your own alleged commitment?
How honest are the most loud, out spoken women's sometimes excessively aggressive defense of the vulnerable women, their so called "sisters"? Those who have been silent up to now, even though they were in a better position to act, support or help? How interested are they of having a serious Communication about these issues with the other party, in this case the male part of humanity?
I get the feeling that a lot of people are losing focus in the media circus and that the necessity to point out individuals becomes more important than the structural issue. It is so important that this debate lives on, but in serious terms. If this develops into becoming just a blame and shame game or a feminist "happening", the debate about the basic problems will be forgotten sooner or later and it would be a shame, now when we finally have a proper grasp of the opposite gender....
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