A Hard Look in the Mirror for Good Men

Why men are afraid of the #MeToo movement

“Believe Women”, the mantra of the #MeToo movement, has perhaps become its biggest obstacle. If we are to believe all of the women and men who have said “Me Too”, then we have to face the truth that sexual harassment and violence are rampant in our culture. This is a hard truth to swallow, especially if you are someone who has benefited from the current system.

Many men who could be allies to the movement are instead asking themselves if they could be the next one falsely accused of harassment or worse. Instead of worrying about being accused, these men could be working to help the movement by truly aligning themselves with those who have been harassed and assaulted. The question is: Why are good men who have not harassed and/or assaulted women so afraid of the movement? First, many men with good intentions do not understand on a conscious level how they have benefited from the male-dominated society in which we live. They have a niggling sensation that they might be part of a problem, but they do not know in what way. Second, we must acknowledge that there have been cases where women have falsely accused men of rape, and these rare cases unfortunately support the arguments against the movement.

The majority of men in the United States have grown up in the period after the women’s…