#ME TOO EFFECT

The #METOO movement has been one of the Game-changing movement in the recent past.  The long-suppressed voices of women who have been subjected to sexual harassment at work place, has come out very strongly.  Men from different walks of life, across the world, who all along thought could get away, stand exposed.  Resignations, law suits and defamation suits have been occupying the front pages of newspapers and magazines.

The major outcome of the Movement is the restoration of dignity and respect to women at workplace.   This has further strengthened the case of introduction and implementation of Gender Equality in some Government Jobs.  The power of social media has brought about a revolutionary change in the office rooms.  Everything sounds very nice and rosy.

Men now are more concerned and careful about their behaviour with Women at work place.  The methods adopted by each individual and corporate is different.  In the recent past, several reports have come out on how some men and corporates have chosen to handle this issue. 

Some Men have made it a point not to be around any women, alone, in the workplace.  No more dinner or one-to meetings with female colleagues or clients.  Some of them do not even sit next to their Female colleagues during Travel.  Some companies have even drafted policies to have different hotel rooms on different floors for their Men and Women Executives who go on Business Travel together

Some of the men in the HR have just begun to start feeling that hiring of a woman is an unknown risk.  The greatest fear is that the women might understand something wrong from a Man’s actions or statements and twist it to imply sexual harassment. 

These weird practices have already started in the Western World.  It would not take time to reach India, especially with so many MNCs having their offices here.  These policies too have the legs to spread just like the #METOO movement.

The problem is, every man was painted with the same brush.  So, the reactions are harsh and self-protective in nature.  You cannot totally blame the Men as they are just trying to be safe and simply be on the right side of matters.  But the problem now is, Men try to avoid Sexual Harassment issue and are getting into Sexual discrimination issues.  Both are a legal offense.

What will happen if the Seniors in the hierarchy do not wish to have one-to-one with junior female staff due to the fear of being framed.  There is a shortage of Women in Senior Positions to bring along the next generation of Women, all by themselves.

Men need to change, to save this movement which has now got the potential to hurt the women’s progress at work.  Women too need to be more genuine in accusing someone of harassment.  If there is no Trust on a lady colleague, the Men will stay away from working with them due to fear.  Then the situation will turn into a Gender Segregation.

It will be interesting to see what ideas men and women adopt to deal with this developing situation. 

(The above article was written for publication in Dec. 2018 issue of PRINCE'S VOICE - my Community eMagazine.)