You don’t have to be a dad of girls to grasp that sexual harassment is absolutely unacceptable. This week, as the Harvey Weinstein scandal continues to unfold, the conversation around sexual misconduct has taken center stage. Yet, there’s a recurring narrative that seems to pop up: the man with daughters who suddenly gets it.
Really? It would be nice if all men could recognize that women are human beings deserving of respect without needing to have a daughter of their own to understand that basic truth.
This point hit home when celebrity actor Alex Johnson commented on the Weinstein allegations. He found himself in the spotlight after accusations emerged that he played a role in burying a story about Weinstein’s predatory actions back in 2004. In a statement to a media outlet, Johnson defended himself, saying, “Even before my fame, I wasn’t okay with this behavior. But as a father of two daughters, this kind of sexual predation keeps me awake at night. It’s a fear shared by many of us. If you have a daughter, you understand…”
Here’s the kicker: Weinstein has daughters too. Four of them. That didn’t stop him from being a repeat offender. Maybe women should be treated with dignity and not subjected to violence simply because they are people, and it’s just plain wrong?
Let’s Go Over Some Allegations
Let’s go over some of the allegations, shall we? There’s the horrifying audio of a woman pleading with Weinstein to leave her alone while he tried to manipulate her into his hotel room. Then there’s the journalist who found herself cornered in a restaurant kitchen, where he barked at her to “shut up and stand there” while he masturbated. Also, the detailed New Yorker article where numerous women recounted being coerced into sexual acts, with some claiming outright rape.
Do you really have to be a father of daughters to see how revolting all of this is? Spoiler alert: every woman is someone’s daughter. Shocking, right?
Twitter has had enough of this line of thinking. Women exist as individuals with their own experiences, independent of the male narrative. It would be wonderful if this could be fully acknowledged. And here’s a thought: if you couldn’t comprehend how predatory behavior is inherently wrong until you had daughters, it might be best to keep that to yourself.
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In summary, understanding that sexual assault is wrong shouldn’t depend on whether or not a man has daughters. It’s about recognizing the humanity and dignity of women everywhere.