#Metoo Movement – the new feminism?

Coral Gables Counseling Center - Wednesday, June 20, 2018
By Emy Fernandez, MBA, Life Coach

Life and Heath Coach

As we have recently seen in the last six to seven months, the resurgence of the #Metoo Movement has dragged men in high places out of their exclusive treetops for sexually harassing and abusing women. Men that were once thought of as indestructible like Weinstein are now in jail awaiting trial or disgraced like Matt Lauer.
 
It’s wonderful that women in high places have had the courage to bring their abusers out and into the light getting retribution as these men are being fired, indicted, and toppled from their tree houses in the sky. Recently we have seen presidents, priests, bishops and celebrities called out.
 
However, how are women that are not in high places getting retribution? Many women are still in fear of calling out abuse at the workplace for fear of losing their much-needed jobs. What platform is in place for them? How can the work that the celebrity women are doing with the #Metoo Movement be furthered by moving it down to the everyday workplace?
More importantly, how are the “good guys” being affected by the #Metoo Movement? Are they feeling like it’s “men bashing?” Have we as women taken it too far with this “new feminism?” I’m one of those lucky women with “good guys” in my life like my husband, my son, my grandson, my brother, my brother-in-law, my uncles, my cousins and my guy friends. How are they being affected by the #Metoo Movement? Are they afraid of how to approach both women and men in the future for fear of having their concern or affection being taken as harassment? As Hispanics we like to give hugs. Do we now have to be less affectionate as we give handshakes?
 
Yes, I believe that not only has the #Metoo Movement opened the door for other women to have the courage to come out and point out their abusers regardless of the consequences but it has also opened the door for men to do the same as in the case of Kevin Spacey. Although the #Metoo Movement is a feminist platform to call out sexual harassment and abuse by holding men to the fire, it has also opened the door for men to feel free to call out their abusers too. Women are not the only ones that have been sexually harassed and abused throughout the years.
 
As I sit here writing, I realize that clearly I’m not an expert on the subject and I only have questions and no answers. But there is one thing I’m very sure about. If the #Metoo Movement has created a platform for women, men and future generations to have questions and discussions about the subject of sexual harassment and abuse rather than have people suffering in silence, then I for one welcome it.