Towards the end of 2017, there was a lot of coverage on the topic of sexual harassment and rape in the media. Though there has always been some coverage over the years, it almost seemed like it came to a head when virtually day after day, famous people were being outed for their past behaviour. Harvey Weinstein and Kevin Spacey were two examples.
Other celebrities accused were Dustin Hoffman and Bill Cosby and of course, many more. Women have a right to feel and be safe and not be sexually harassed. Not only is it a crime, but nobody wants attention of this nature. Men can play their part in reducing these crimes in many ways, so let’s take a look at some of these.
1. It’s Time To Listen To Women
Perhaps in the past, men may have been guilty of not really listening to what women had to say when it came to these crimes. However, thanks to social media and a few brave women, not only have these incidents received greater publicity, but the nature and the horrible details these women have bravely shared should encourage everyone to finally listen and take notice and make changes. No matter how you look at it, it is a serious crime and nobody should have to go through it.
If they do, then let’s all listen to what women have to say and if possible, the guilty ones should be brought to justice, not just for the sake of making an example of a few, but to be punished severely. Do not second-guess a woman’s account, but instead, let us all listen.
2. Boys & Men Need To Talk
Boys and even men can show support by beginning to talk more about this among themselves. Many women have been through sexual assault but it isn’t always brought to light. So, it may seem that it is not really that prevalent with the occasional, isolated incident. However, this is not true because it happens a lot more than people realize. Men should talk to each other more about how women suffer from these crimes and how it can have a lasting and damaging impact on them.
If men know a common female friend who may have experienced sexual harassment, they can come together and show support for her. It’s time to speak up for the women and not be silent anymore. Women are not sexual objects but human beings. Boys should learn these lessons sooner rather than later.
3. Encouraging Education
Men should get behind campaigns to bring about more education in schools and campuses as well as the workplace. If nobody did a thing to make these changes, then the result will be that not a thing will be changed, plain and simple. Only through advocating meaningful change will positive changes eventually occur. It won’t happen overnight, but it will happen in time. Everyone needs to be educated about how wrong sexual harassment is and how much pain and suffering it will bring to a victim.
When you think of how racism changed, it did not happen overnight. It took years of fighting, demonstrating, violence and dying. Racism still exists, but blacks can now sit in the same buses and drink the same water. At one time, it was segregated. The fight against sexual harassment starts now. It would be great if it could end in a couple of months, but like racism, it is going to take years before incidents become less. If you have been the victim of sexual harassment, don’t just accept it anymore. Find a good sexual assault lawyer and get the best help possible and make the perpetrator pay for his crime.
