#Metoo Again?

Honestly, it's 2021, and we are still jabbing away about #metoo? Yes, yes and yes. Me-too was not just an event that happened. It was and still is a movement. A movement for women in the workplace who have been sexually harassed solely on the premise of their gender. I would argue that it is a movement for women who are timid and bound to the world's expectations of who they should be. This gives them a voice to speak up against shameful behaviour before it even happens.

Girls are taught to be quiet, behave appropriately, and to not take up too much space. They are rewarded and acknowledged when they are nice, good and caring. I don’t think it is intentional, however it is peculiar how little girls will get toys such as a doll to dress up and care for; whereas boys get racing cars that are smashed across the floor. Before anyone gets angry that I am naming stereotypes, I do understand that there is progress within society and that new parents are more intentional with how to raise their kids, regardless of their gender. I am not only talking about kids here. There is an expectation of women in the workplace and maybe even more so, the ones who are in the public spotlight such as in the music industry.

In a recent documentary produced by the New York Times called Framing Britney Spears, we get to see her singing career through the eyes of the tabloids. The main focus is the issue of her father’s conservatorship, and I won’t comment on that issue here as none of the parties came forward for an interview. However, it was interesting to see how a female artist was being harassed by the media, and how pop-culture mocked her. A perfect example of worldly expectations for women is that people still joke about 2007 being the year Britany Spears went “mad” by shaving her hair and beating a car with an umbrella. There have also been shocking interviews aired, such as the interview of Ivo Niehe who plainly says “there is one thing we haven’t discussed; everyone is talking about it. Your breasts”. There it is, an older man sitting across from a 17-year-old Brittney, talking about her breasts. As shocking as this may seem, unsurprisingly it is not uncommon, as female artists are still being bombarded by unprofessional questions on camera such as Taylor Swift being asked at the Grammys in 2015 if she will be leaving with “lots of men” or when Lady Gaga is asked “whether she has a penis or not” which are both pretty outrageous questions to be asked on camera. But also, milder forms of sexism such as when Ariana Grande is served with a “dilemma” of choosing never to use make-up or never use her phone again, as if that’s the two most important things for women.

The main problem is not always what these journalists are asking but perhaps what they neglect to ask, such as genuine questions about their career, music making and their talent. The #metoo movement has somehow become a monument of reflection; people in the workspace and journalists are being reminded to think twice before asking a question or making an insensitive “joke” and can pause to figure out if that particular comment is indeed necessary. The movement was and is just that, a movement, helpful and vital for the women currently in the workspace but also a shift for future generations both men and women and perhaps a guideline for how to create a safe working environment for everyone.

I do not hate men, in fact I love men, and I believe lots of women love men. However, I do think that women should love themselves a lot more, take the respect they deserve and use their talent without judging themselves or being afraid of being judged by others. Let’s make sure #metoo was not just an event in 2017, let’s keep the movement going for ourselves and for our future generations.

“Feminism isn’t about making women stronger. Women are already strong; it’s about changing the way the world perceives that strength” G.D. Anderson