#MeToo: India’s MeToo on hold?

NPnewsOnline (TANUSHREE PODDAR):   It took a year since the #MeToo wave hit Hollywood for its surges to be felt in India across the showbiz, media, art, literature and political worlds. But it has led to some extent of social awakening about gender dynamics and prevention of sexual harassment at the workplace.

These women being in the movement, have opened about men behaved horribly with them because of a male culture that makes men ignorant of sexual choice and consent. Bollywood ladies, who started the Indian edition of this movement, still struggle to bring down the actors they have charged with being sexual predators.

According to a report, WCD Ministry said that around 169 complaints have been received through ‘SHe-box’ since 2017. The highest number of complaints have been received from Maharashtra 33, followed by Delhi 23. Whereby, have received as many as 141 sexual harassment complaints since last year, out of which 45 have been disposed of all by private sectors.

but lately, we haven’t been talking about it. The possible reason behind the quieted down #MeToo movement in India, is because liberal and feminist critics of a certain type have dominated its discourse. By and large their opinions, have blamed men, male culture and patriarchy all valid criticisms.

It was stimulating to note that women from different fraternity led the movement on social media and all other possible ways to create a safe space for women. But it is even more interesting to see that every feminist has her own interpretation of feminism. People have somewhat forgotten that feminism includes studying women and men. It’s about the creation of the genders, the making of women as women and men as men and other genders as other genders.

Apart from this, there are minute important things missing from the movement that is-Men. “Why is it that sexual violence against women is a ‘women’s issue’ and not a ‘men’s issue’? After all, it is men who are responsible for the violence. In fact, #MeToo in India is a unique opportunity for men here to take a stand on behalf of women and strongly send out the message that sexually abusive behaviours will not be tolerated and initiate measures for gender equality in workplaces and everywhere else. Constructive involvement of men and boys in reorganizing power because men also have a responsibility is required.