As #MeToo turns into a viral social tsunami, women writers talk about how its impact is changing society. By Chahak Mittal
A few months back who would have thought that the revelations in the Harry Weinstein case would lead to a practical storm in India, where incidents of sexual harassment were best brushed under the carpet? But with accusations still tumbling out and showing no signs of abating, names like Nana Patekar, Sajid Khan, MJ Akbar, Rajat Kapoor, Gursimran Khamba, Vikas Bhal, Chetan Bhagat, Zain Khan Durrani, Chintan Ruparel making headlines and taking up Twitter space, a discussion on #Metoo and the culture of impunity: Conversation across generations was certainly called for.
However, how is revealing these names on social media helping women get justice questioned author Ira Trivedi. She said that even if we do have a system and law that makes such offences punishable, “The problem is in getting FIRs filed.” She added, “In such a case, one thing about social media is that it is helpful, but only to some extent. For example, writer Chetan Bhagat has 12.5 million followers everywhere. Sohail Sen has eight million followers. Combining the two would account for an approximate population of Australia.” Many women are trolled for giving out these names which sometimes makes it seem that they are pushing their personal agendas by taking names to defame people.
“The only point is that now women are rising to finally speak up against it,” said actress and former national secretary of BJP, Vani Tripathi. She believed that it is absolutely “convenient” to rubbish those who have the courage to come out against harassment as a “lynch mob. It’s been decades since this voice didn’t get attention. It is like a tsunami now, it will churn things and is here to stay.”
Talking about harassment in the age of social media, journalist and writer, Namita Bhandare pointed out it has made men more cautious. Men often alert their friends and tell them to be on their best behaviour around women friends and colleagues and say, ‘Mat bol yaar, #MeToo hojayega varna. (Don’t say it buddy, otherwise you will be outed under #MeToo.) She said, “It’s important to tell them that this time they will be outed. Yes, #MeToo could happen to them as well. Think before you speak or act.”
While the talk of the evening was about the changing scenario with the social tsunami, the panel also discussed the movement’s local and international alternatives and the culture of impunity that had led the earlier generations being more tolerant of flirtation at workplace than their successors. It also highlighted the disagreements, pushing of personal agendas, and about whether the movement has gone too far in trying to discourage sexual misconduct at the workplace and beyond.
Gokhale focussed on the point that it is important to put a full stop, rather than a backspace. She said giving an example, “When a person is trying to come near you and gets too close after a certain point, you will step back. But that is a mistake that we, as women, often make — stepping back. What should rather be done is to just push them away. This will put a stop to it then and there. The same applies to every woman at the workplace, don’t try to just step back by leaving the position, fight for it then and there.”
While talking about harassment at workplace, the panelists also came across a new issue, of not employing women as they could be a threat to the existing corporate structure. Indian feminist and writer Urvashi Butalia gave the example of actress Tanushree Dutta, who spoke about the person who harassed her after 10 long years. “When women finally come out and find the courage to speak up, she may not find work for a long time post that, but this doesn’t mean that she is finished. She will rise again, this time with the destructive mode,” she said.
For instance, if one remembers Mahabharatha, the Pandavas were initially not up for a battle due to massive bloodshed and destruction, after Draupadi’s assault in a court of a 100 people. But it was Draupadi, who eventually did convince them to fight against those who wronged her. She added that “This is also an example of how prevalent harassment has been since the ages.”
Moving on to examples about various men who have been outed, there was yet another issue that was touched upon — gaslighting or the constant psychological harassment that leads a person to question their own sanity and actions.
While Chintan Ruparel, director and founder of Terribly Tiny Tales, was outed in the movement, he was also accused of gaslighting several women and making them question their own actions. While not defending the harasser, one needs to question as to who is to blame in such a case? The one who is letting it happen, unknowingly, or the one who does it unknowingly?
Vani answered, “Gaslighting is all about patriarchy, and asserting what has been long established as a notion. It is not about who is doing what, it is about the entitlement of patriarchal roles that are so deeply engraved in the society that they don’t even look like wrong to most men.”
They also highlighted that sexual harassment at workplace is “not about desire, but about practicing power over a subordinate.”
Gokhale said, “#MeToo has been a watershed in how women perceive their boundaries and autonomy and reclaim their dignity and equity at the workplace and in their personal lives. The is a conversation across generations. I would also like to voice my respect for the strength and conviction of this new generation of young women and their determination and clarity in asserting their rights.”
