In spite of the gains of MeToo, it’s still a man’s world

MeToo has resulted in severe social and career consequences for assailants, many of whom have already decried that due process has been abandoned.

The latest to make that argument was Kavanaugh himself, in a fuming, vitriolic rebuttal to the judiciary committee Thursday.

But there are a couple of problems with that argument in the context of Kavanaugh’s confirmation proceeding and of most other assailants who have been accused.

First, one is guaranteed due process in a legal investigation.

In many cases, save examples like Bill Cosby, Jian Ghomeshi or Harvey Weinstein, the intent of the survivor coming forward is not for a criminal proceeding to take place.

If Kavanaugh or others believe they are being unfairly defamed, they could launch civil lawsuits against their accusers.

That doesn’t work, of course, if what the accuser has said is the truth.

But there’s still a problem with what we call due process as part of a criminal investigation.

According to an award-winning report from the Globe and Mail – about 20 per cent of sexual assault reports are dismissed as unfounded by Canadian police forces.

However, the actual proportion of false report cases is estimated at between two and eight per cent.

That’s a lot of sexual assault survivors who are being completely disregarded when they come forward.

As traumatic as reliving ones sexual assault would be for a survivor, the very strong chance that authorities dismiss you completely might dissuade you from reporting all together.

And one of the saddest aspects of the whole thing?

It may not matter.

Jian Ghomeshi, Aziz Ansari, Louis CK and others sat on the sidelines for a while, and are now in the process of making their comebacks.

It appears Brett Kavanaugh won’t be sidelined at all.

The sexual assault allegation will be an asterisk on his career.

Christine Blasey Ford and survivors like her, sadly, will be forgotten by history.

MeToo has made great gains, but it certainly still is a man’s world.

by Two & Out

In spite of the gains of MeToo, it’s still a man’s world

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