Why #MeToo Succeeds and Fails

I may not have a #MeToo story, but I know that it may be harder for women to get a job anywhere sexual harassment or assault may be rampant because of one thing: it's male dominated.

#MeToo may have shed light on sexual violence or attacks on women because their gender puts them at a disposition, but it may have also reversed the clock on women's advancement in the workplace. Many male-dominated jobs may be harder to get into once a sexual harassment or assault report is filed by a female co-worker. It could mean better training or extensive reviews of policies that some companies cannot afford to do. For others, it could be the denial of future female employees if one has been known to file and report any sort of behavior as a tattle-tale for getting too close.

Women in the Workforce

Earlier this month, Facebook executive Sheryl Sandberg let out a warning that this sexual violence campaign may have some serious consequences in getting more women to be part of fields where there are only a small percentage of women currently working. Industries like technology, engineering, and politics are some of the fields in which women account for less than five percent of the company.

With another #MeToo hashtag coming out every minute, it seems like what these aficionados read in the paper, hear on the news, or read through tweets on Twitter harm the reasons behind hiring more women in these industries. It gives them the impression that women often report anything, even if it is something as simple as a comment about attire. Not only does it show that women report anything they deem is inappropriate, but they would rat out anyone who goes the wrong way with advances in the workplace.

Sandberg writes that some people have noticed a lack of women in the workforce or in the employment pool because these are just some of the arbitrary reasons why men won't hire women. But it all boils down to common sense and enforcing equality in the workplace. Maybe even a ban on workplace relationships if it means avoiding any sexual violence (Amazon's distribution warehouses do not allow relationships between its workers unless it has been approved by their Human Resource department). Basically, what you do with your male employees is something you should do with your female employees as well. Even if you give women 70-80 percent of the same amount of money in a paycheck on payday.

Sandberg says that maybe revisiting or rewriting the rules for sexual harassment or assault reporting could be possible. But it may be safer than sorry to train, mentor, and encourage more women to be part of the higher ups in the company to ensure that there is no increase of sexual harassment within the company surrounding its female counterparts.

Sexual violence comes from the need to overpower or dominate someone, most victims being women and a few men. So, if you equalize the power higher up in the company food chain, there may be a more equal notion of power within the company. If only some people could turn on their brains and use this advice in hand, rather than continue with the same process because they don't like change.

#MeToo Campaign Success

There have been some successful moments to the campaign. Some of these include open discussion in the workplace about manners and behavior that is acceptable to use when talking or working alongside female employees. It has been generating a more readily response time to a situation of sexual violence and the eagerness to help with solving a legal dispute of sexual violence than taking a payout.

Harvey Weinstein and Matt Lauer may be some of the more iconic turns in history over the use of the #MeToo hashtag. In their cases, some women have filed reports or have started to discuss working with these types of men because they have had enough. While most women choose not to file a sexual violence account, the ones who do become voices to those who didn't have the courage to stand up and fight.

#MeToo Possible Campaign Failure

While women are writing #MeToo about a sexual violence incident, there may be trouble for those who stir the tide and "troll" more or less to the point in which the movement will become nothing but a social media phenomenon. False accusations of sexual violence stories could turn against the popular hashtag. Not only could false accusations undermine the credibility of the hashtag, but choosing to believe so many women even if there is no physical evidence or proof their allegations occurred, could also put the popular phrase under the water.

There are cases of people slandering someone because they want to be in the limelight like everyone else, but it is those false reports that generally cause loss of face and credibility to newspaper publications or legal services. The incident with the Rolling Stonemagazine about the faked gang rape story is one example of what might happen if a false charge was brought up using the hashtag #MeToo.

This may be a great campaign to bring to light that not all places of employment are glitter and gold. It may never be a men's only tree house in certain parts of our legislature or Hollywood, but it will certainly put an emphasis to an iron stiletto heel ensuring that power is shared equally.