Best impetus to #MeToo movement
Look at NCBI data. (link) 52% men faced gender based violence
Look at UK data. (link). More than 40% of the victims are male.
The Johnny Depp case is a landmark case in more ways than one. It will help the #MeToo movement become what it originally was: A forum, a rallying cry for the victims of domestic abuse and way to speak up without being afraid of being shamed, ostracized or hunted.
Origins of the movement.
The #MeToo movement had started with a noble and just cause of giving voice to the women who were abused, survivors of violence and went through traumatic experiences.
It tried to give the benefit of doubt to the women wherever possible, be empathetic and also protect them from subsequent abuse by their perpetrators.
However, soon it had started morphing into a medieval witch hunt in which all women are to be believed irrespective of evidence since no woman would ever do such a thing. Right ? #BelieveAllWomen
#Metoo is a required and a much needed movement. Make no mistake about it.
But sexual, mental and physical abuse is not restricted to one gender.
Become more inclusive, sensitive and gender agnostic
It will help #MeToo expand its span and become a truly inclusive movement. The current movement was devolving into a holier than thou movement with no regards to evidence.
As seen above, violence is not restricted to one gender. It is gender agnostic.
And for a movement to be truly successful, it cannot exclude 50% of the population, that too when the statistics are overwhelming showing that men facing abuse at the hands of women is not an isolated incident.
Gender Bias in reverse: DeppVsHeard
I will jump straight to the point since almost everyone has seen the trial videos live.
“Woman up and stop being a baby. I did not punch you, I only hit you”. Imagine a man saying this to a woman. The case would be over then and there. No questions asked. Everything else, any other context would not be listened to, all other evidence would be ignored and the man would be charged as guilty.
What is more is this, even if somehow the question of mutual abuse was established, I am reasonably sure that man would lose the case and no statements about him being an imperfect victim would even be raised.
It had started becoming gender bias in reverse. It started with the premise of a man being an abuser and
Depp was extremely courageous and also very lucky
“You got beaten up by a girl”. This has been the source of mockery for men since time immemorial.
Now add the #Metoo movement
Now add the fact that you lost the trial once.
Now add that you are a “manly” man and global superstar claiming to be abused.
‘Go tell them, that you Johnny Depp, a man were a victim of violence”
Depp was extremely lucky that the judge allowed the cameras in the courthouse and helped him expose the true nature of Amber Heard.
Else the mainstream media left no stone unturned in demonizing an innocent man
It took courage of epic proportions for Depp to come forth and show that men too can be victims.
Disingenuous, Disconcerting and Dehumansing. #BelieveAllWomen
When the movement became #BelieveAllWomen it struck a jarring note.
Dehumanizing the abuse suffered by men.
Assuming that no woman ever lies.
Only men are abusive.
Any principle of justice that starts with the implicit guilt of any person is not a system that we want to implement.
Amber Heard was not an imperfect victim. She was the perfect abuser.
She lied about donations. She lied about not writing the article. She lied about not notifying TMZ. She lied about the Depp suffering a lost finger through a phone. She lied about her broken nose. She lied about the fact that Johnny helped get her the movie.
The police officers didn’t record any injury. No medical record exist for her treatment.
Never submitted the phone or device with which the photos were taken.
Here is a woman who recorded her husband at the worst of his moments and yet had no video of him hitting her.
All the audios that were played she was the one being the aggressor.
Depp’s children didn’t want to be near her
She tried isolating him, by having her freeloading friends stay in the same penthouse.
Every line that she uttered was a classic textbook play of an abuser.
Actions have consequences. Liars and System Manipulators need to be punished
Heard being punished was due to the fact that she was a liar. Not because of Depp fans, not because of social media.
Everything is on her account.
While I am no Depp fan, he has my tremendous respect for coming out and being so brave.
He has transformed the #MeToo movement for the better and given a ray of hope to domestic violence victims all around the world. (men or women)
It is shameful, the way Amber heard manipulated this system and almost ruined a man’s life.
Kudos to you Mr. Depp for being so brave and so vulnerable and giving voice to victims
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