A response to “A Male’s Musings on #MeToo”
By an anonymous guest contributor / Photo from A Male’s Musings on #MeToo by Wes Brooks
Content warning: sexual violence
4/29/19 – In an editorial entitled “A Male’s Musings on #MeToo,” Harbinger editor Wes Brooks challenges heterosexual men to rid themselves of toxic masculinity and treat women with respect. While I laud Brooks’ sentiments and willingness to speak out on a difficult subject, I think that his article fails to take into account the overarching theme of the #MeToo movement. #MeToo is not about heterosexual men preying upon heterosexual women, which is the focus of Brooks’ editorial. It is about sexual predators leveraging their power against victims. When we so narrowly define “predator” as heterosexual man and “victim” as heterosexual woman, we are arresting progression towards a solution that takes the many facets of sexual violence into account.
An approach that assumes that heterosexuality is the default sexual orientation is one that only addresses one small aspect of sexual violence. Anyone, of any gender or sexual orientation, may play the role of perpetrator or victim. Besides, Brooks’ fear that sexual violence may cause heterosexuality to “become unattractive” is baseless at best and patently offensive at worse. One does not choose their sexual orientation; it is an inborn trait. The notion that sexual abuse is what leads to the adoption of LGTBQ+ identities is a tired-out myth.
The solution to sexual violence is not “respecting women.” It is not “earning back women’s trust.” It is not teaching heterosexual males to be empathetic or courageous. The solution to sexual violence is to instill in everyone, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation, that they are not entitled to anyone else’s body. For those who cannot grasp the concept, punishment to the full extent of the law must be pursued.
While Brooks seeks to address the issue on a (heterosexual male) individual level, I feel that a more complete solution may come at a systemic level. According to the Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network (RAINN), only five out of every one thousand rapists will ever see the inside of a jail cell. This points to a systemic problem, and a systemic problem requires a systemic solution. Thanks to the #MeToo movement, we have already seen some rapists face legal repercussions (R. Kelly and Harvey Weinstein are notable examples), but these repercussions often amount to a mere slap on the wrist, like in the case of Brock Turner.
To be clear, I am not suggesting that introspection and personal responsibility are not powerful tools in combating sexual violence. I admire Brooks’ eloquent challenge to cultivate those qualities. But this solution alone will not solve our current crisis. A systemic solution, free of heteronormativity, is what is truly needed to achieve security and justice.