Sonam Kapoor recently penned a note in which she states how one should respond to the #MeToo movement.
Sonam Kapoor Ahuja never shies away from speaking her mind on issues that she feels strongly about and often stands in solidarity with those affected by it. When #MeToo movement picked up momentum in India earlier this year, with many women calling out alleged harassers, Sonam emerged as one of the staunch supporters of those who had the courage to speak up.
As guest editor for Thrive Global India’s online portal, the actress penned an honest note on how people must learn to deal with the #MeToo movement in which people in powerful positions are being called out for sexually harassing, exploiting and/or violating others.
“I am privileged that I did not grow up with relatives for whom off-handed sexist remarks were the dinner table norm or where women were asked to shut up and look down,” she began. “That safety net, this spotlight and a stage for my opinion has always encouraged me to have a voice.”
Using that very voice, Sonam took this opportunity to pen some suggestions as to how one should deal with #MeToo as it grows in India.
“Yes, a person is innocent until proven guilty but must it come at the cost of rejecting a survivor’s account?” she questioned, urging people to believe the survivors. “We need to remember that women are taking on incredible personal risk and trauma to tell their stories. We owe them, at the least, our trust and support.”
She stressed on the need of a mental reboot of sorts, explaining that people need a shift in mindset which acknowledged that sons and daughters should not be treated differently.
“Mothers must stop treating their sons like they’re precious gifts from God,” she continued. “We have powerful people in our country who are women but our mentality continues to be that menstruating women – or women at large – shouldn’t enter temples.”
Speaking about understanding consent, the actress noted, “Ditch the entitlement. Understand consent; if it’s a no, then it’s an unequivocal no.”
However, those who don’t understand the importance of consent must be exposed and punished, something that the Neerja actress reiterated on during her note. She also highlighted that it is necessary to take sides and speak up when something of this sort becomes public.
“We shouldn’t be quiet because we fear hurting someone,” she said while speaking of taking sides. “If you are silent and don’t take sides then you are, I am afraid, on the side of the person who is wrong. Always take sides.”
The national award winning actress felt that the #MeToo movement is about survivors and perpetrators, about making the society less misogynist, entitled and changing how we think. “It’s time to transform the naysayers into supporters, to join the movement in full force and oppose every act – even a suggestion – of abuse and discrimination,” she asserted on a parting note.
