Here's an opinion piece from earlier this year, written by Margaret Atwood in response to a specific case involving a professor at the University of British Columbia, and how the university...
Here's an opinion piece from earlier this year, written by Margaret Atwood in response to a specific case involving a professor at the University of British Columbia, and how the university handled its treatment of the case for both the accused and accusers, calling for better due process and saying the #MeToo movement is a symptom of a legal system that has failed to do its job.
As someone who has always respected Atwood in both her writings and interviews, I find I don't have much to add. So here's a bit of my thoughts. Honestly I have felt conflict about the #MeToo...
As someone who has always respected Atwood in both her writings and interviews, I find I don't have much to add. So here's a bit of my thoughts.
As for vigilante justice – condemnation without a trial – it begins as a response to a lack of justice – either the system is corrupt, as in prerevolutionary France, or there isn't one, as in the Wild West – so people take things into their own hands. But understandable and temporary vigilante justice can morph into a culturally solidified lynch-mob habit, in which the available mode of justice is thrown out the window, and extralegal power structures are put into place and maintained.
Honestly I have felt conflict about the #MeToo since it's conception. Though I am glad that it 1) brings light to injustices and prejudices, and 2) empowers people to come forward and share their story, I've always felt hesitatant with the resulting witch-hunt. And in truth believe it only pushed us forward so much before it rolled us right back.
There is still a huge disconnect that is responsible for this. We are seeing a lot of backlash against #MeToo, which says to me, it's at least partially hitting it's mark. However, like the recent statements from Cavill, there is still a very real and huge gulf to cross. No matter what someone might think of his comments, I believe it shows there is still at best deep misunderstanding about the topic and at worst true misogyny.
For me, the #MeToo movement was important for the initial vigilante justice, but is not quick enough to be supported legitimately by supporting legitimate justice systems. Of course there are still issues in the existing system that makes this understandable, but in places where it make sense to stand for an existing system, such as this UBC case when additional information, though not released, is available. It needs to stand for truth and for the rights of all, not just the discriminated class.
Here's an opinion piece from earlier this year, written by Margaret Atwood in response to a specific case involving a professor at the University of British Columbia, and how the university handled its treatment of the case for both the accused and accusers, calling for better due process and saying the #MeToo movement is a symptom of a legal system that has failed to do its job.
She was one of a number of signatories on a letter titled "UBC Accountable", which called for due process in the case of the professor's accusations. At least 10 other signatories eventually withdrew their names from the letter after harassment, bullying or threats through social media (https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/more-than-10-writers-remove-their-names-from-controversial-letter-in-steven-galloway-case/article37598317/)
After printing this piece in the Globe and Mail, Atwood shut down her social media presence.
As someone who has always respected Atwood in both her writings and interviews, I find I don't have much to add. So here's a bit of my thoughts.
Honestly I have felt conflict about the #MeToo since it's conception. Though I am glad that it 1) brings light to injustices and prejudices, and 2) empowers people to come forward and share their story, I've always felt hesitatant with the resulting witch-hunt. And in truth believe it only pushed us forward so much before it rolled us right back.
There is still a huge disconnect that is responsible for this. We are seeing a lot of backlash against #MeToo, which says to me, it's at least partially hitting it's mark. However, like the recent statements from Cavill, there is still a very real and huge gulf to cross. No matter what someone might think of his comments, I believe it shows there is still at best deep misunderstanding about the topic and at worst true misogyny.
For me, the #MeToo movement was important for the initial vigilante justice, but is not quick enough to be supported legitimately by supporting legitimate justice systems. Of course there are still issues in the existing system that makes this understandable, but in places where it make sense to stand for an existing system, such as this UBC case when additional information, though not released, is available. It needs to stand for truth and for the rights of all, not just the discriminated class.