The name may change, the person may change, the streets, place, and age may change, but for a girl, every day is either 'me too' or a struggle to stop 'me too.' One staring at you, grabbing your body part and if you couldn't look back at him, it will last forever. It will hurt everyday, it will haunt in every phase of her life.
The '#Me too' movement with a lot of local and international alternatives, in fact began, in 2006 by Tarana Burke to promote 'empowerment through empathy' among women of underprivileged communities. But the hashtag became popular when Alyssa Milano, an American actress, tweeted it on October 15, 2017, to share her experiences. At the end of the day, the hashtag became a platform to share the sexual assault or harassment faced by women from various industries as well as to show solidarity with the victims. Soon, abuses at many more spaces -- such as church, education, finance, politics, music etc -- came to light.
In the wake of the global campaign, Indian media and society took over the 'me too' movement soon after Bollywood actress Tanushree Dutta accused actor Nana Patekar of sexual harassment. Many, across industries, are now disclosing stories of harassments like never before and it has widespread support. In this respect, the mixed responses to the actress assault case in Kerala stand out.
The online movement reveals women are facing problems irrespective of place, position, space, fame, and fortune. The platform gives women the strength to speak up and the light to see themselves as survivors, not as the perpetrator or instigator.
Many times women see themselves as the reason for the malice committed on them or bear the shame themselves, instead of the person who actually commits the crime. Of course, sexual assault or harassment is a crime in the eye of the law, but victims are socially penalised rather than the culprit in reality. The heinous act and the accused will be forgotten in no time, but a woman will suffer its trauma till death. Well said before, physical wounds heal within a small period, but mental scars won't.
Fear, shame, verbal abuse, and mental scars will take time to settle down. Any girl can relate these issues to herself. They won’t tell until they find someone who had experienced the same. They won't tell until they attain a position of free mind after a long fight within themselves. I still remember one of my friends who is still afraid to travel in the general compartment because she had some bitter experience before.
In one episode on child sexual abuse in the most famous talk show 'Satyameva Jayate' hosted by Bollywood actor Aamir Khan, one of the participants, who had been abused by his uncle for many years, made a remarkable statement that it took several years to say no to his uncle and took double the time to share it on a public platform.
Here lies the answer for all those who have been criticising the victims who have finally come up with courage for their silence for a long time. We live in a country like India where everyone has the freedom of expression and speech but has an invisible chain named defamation that enables the offender to enjoy all the privileges of law.
And this makes the 'me too' participants more vigilant as well as haunted. And sometimes the media focuses on big fish than the prey who have suffered. The 'me too' movement thus exposed many idols and different workplaces and shown how women are unsafe. In India when we still debate on menstruation and purity and believe virginity is more important than a woman's skills and abilities, the length of her dress and reach of the home determines her character, 'me too' became a margin for the marginalised people. It is a platform where women find themselves not alone, but with the support of many. 'Me too' gives them an opportunity to share their bitter experiences and it is the space where everyone is equal in pain and struggle. Anyone can comment on any issue but it will take time for sharing personal issues or problems that have a face.
Let women speak out. Let them share, and pour some more mercy towards the victim, not to the accused. Let our women speak and let us make sure that they are safe not by caging them but making them fly.