#MeToo: Men lend their support to the movement, say ‘we will do better’

Lately celebrities, both at home and abroad have also voiced their support in favour of it. While the movement has garnered sufficient praise, it is pretty evident that the narrative has been mostly lop-sided. Women have taken it upon themselves to embrace a difficult episode in their lives and share it with the world. However, the onus of it is on men too and while several women have rallied for participation, finally several men too have come up and lent their support.

While some have taken spoken about being abused, others have taken responsibility for their actions. There are also others who have urged their male counterparts to rectify themselves. While one wrote, I see you. I acknowledge you. I believe you. We should be better. We can do better. We will do better,” another wrote “Don’t try and participate in the #MeToo movement. Listen, absorb, learn. Do better.”

Men have been victims too.

@KTHopkins As a male who was sexually and psychology abused by a female throughout my childhood, does the #MeToo hashtag apply to me too?

— J (@breakingjason) October 17, 2017

And some have taken responsibility for their actions.

I wanted to write a full piece on this but meanwhile here’s a thread on how I’ve been horrible to women in the past. #MeToo #SoDoneChilling

— Shariq Rafeek (@_riqsha) October 16, 2017

#MeToo
No to all kinds of verbal, physical, sexual, and psychological harassment that people go through everyday irrespective of gender.

— Ala Oueslati (@Alaoueslat) October 17, 2017

To those with a #MeToo Story:

I see you.
I acknowledge you.
I believe you.

We should be better.
We can do better.
We will do better.

— Steve Torres (@HeySteeb) October 17, 2017

A recommendation to men on the internet:

Don’t try and participate in the #MeToo movement. Listen, absorb, learn. Do better.

— Xand Venturas (@XandVenturas) October 17, 2017

If you’re a man and angry about the #metoo hashtag and related stories by women on Facebook, you need to have a fucking word with yourself.

— Philip O’Connor (@philipoconnor) October 17, 2017

Men,

Don’t say you have a mother, a sister, a daughter…

Story continues below this ad

Say you have a father, a brother, a son who can do better.

We all can.#MeToo

— Nick Jack Pappas (@Pappiness) October 16, 2017

Men: if #MeToo doesn’t have you frantically searching your memory and thinking “Did I?”, you’re either inexperienced or The Problem.

— Andy Goss (@CSSDuke) October 16, 2017

Every educated man needs to use the #MeToo movement to learn. Above all, To spread knowledge. To be inclusive and to be aware. I vow to try.

— Vir Das (@thevirdas) October 17, 2017

Though this participation by men is being seen as a positive contribution, the numbers seem to be far less. Not only that, there is a bigger question of whether this initiative will end up being just a one-week fad, or will it be at least a step forward in bringing in a change in attitude as well as action.