About a month ago I watched the #MeToo posts make their way
through my newsfeed. If you missed it
looked like this:
#MeToo
If all the people who have been sexually harassed or
sexually assaulted self-identified by posting “me too” we might get an idea of
the magnitude of the problem.
It was sobering to see so many posts and my thought was “what
now? What happens after this has made its rounds on Facebook? How can I respond?
1)
Listen/Be present/Be intentional: Get coffee, go
for a drive, go on a walk, bake cookies and listen. I will be the first to say that I am bad with emotion and tear but I realize that tears and hugs are a big part of honesty and listening.
2)
Tell your stories: This doesn’t mean you have to tell your
deepest darkest secrets to strangers. Realize
that you are not alone and there are so many people that can say “me too”.
Sometimes it’s as simple as saying “hey,
the guy at that gas station says things like ‘you don’t have to be good with
numbers because you have a pretty face.’ He’s known in the area for liking the
ladies…”
3)
Support people who are actively speaking out for
those who can’t. One example: Nicole
Braddock Bromley (http://iamonevoice.org/home) I had the opportunity hear Nicole speak when I
was in undergrad, and I have followed her work since then. I have read her books Hush and Breathe and I
can’t seem to keep them on my shelf because I keep giving copies away.
