Zach Russell On #MeToo

Unfortunately, when I first heard about the #MeToo movement I was not surprised at all. I have witnessed many cases of sexual harassment from the typical catcall to cases of physical harassment. I had started to overlook these moments before the #MeToo movement, feeling bad for the people who had resorted to sexual harassment as a pastime.

The #MeToo movement started during a time where sexual harassment was particularly overlooked, which adds more to its importance. But something that I worry this movement looks over is men who are sexually harassed.

Women aren’t they only group of people who are sexually harassed, men also make up a portion of victims. People often discredit male victims of sexual harassment. In order for this movement to be complete I believe we need to address this aspect of sexual harassment as well.

#MeToo is something we needed in order to address sexual harassment. But until everyone recognizes the issue we have in our country and the world, this problem will continue to exist. Without the recognition that sexual harassment does not only affect women people will increasingly look over men as targets of this pervasive problem. #MeToo can change this by becoming more inclusive to men who have faced sexual harassment and want to speak out against it, without being shot down because the world views them as stronger and immune to problems such as this. If #MeToo creates a space safe for men to speak out against sexual harassment and tell their story sexual harassment against men will no longer be viewed as a joke.