IQ2: #MeToo has gone too far

Has the #MeToo movement gone too far, reversing sexism instead of rebalancing it and labelling awkward sexual encounters as serious assaults? Or has it not yet gone far enough to put criminal men behind bars?

United by social media and shared experiences of harassment and assault, women across the globe are collaborating to create the biggest feminist movement ever. It began in the creative industries with the fall of Hollywood giant Harvey Weinstein. Actress Alyssa Milano’s clarion call for women to tweet #MeToo showed how prevalent the problem was. Next came Australia’s television gardening hero Don Burke. Then comedian Aziz Ansari and “Grace” complicated the movement, dividing opinion on what is abuse and “bad sex” and where women’s agency and vulnerability starts and ends.

Is #MeToo bonding women together to create an inspirational force to affect behavioural change, or is it pitting woman against woman and driving feminism’s efforts backward?

IQ2 Australia covers the biggest issues of our times, building a bridge between ideological extremes to deliver smart, civil and engaging debate. IQ2 Australia is celebrating its tenth anniversary — and there has never been a more important time for respectful conversations that matter. Make the world more intelligent.

GUESTS

FOR

Libby-Jane Charleston is an author and journalist. The former model and associate editor of Huffington Post AU has published books, worked as a newspaper columnist, a television producer, reporter with every Australian network and was an early responder to the #MeToo movement.

Michael Salter is a criminologist whose research specialises in gendered violence, sexual assault, and complex trauma. His book Crime, Justice and Social Media explores online harassment and social media justice campaigns. Michael sits on the board of directors of the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation and is a senior lecturer in criminology at Western Sydney University.

AGAINST

Benjamin Law has a PhD in creative writing and is a writer of books, screenplays, essays, and columns. He authored The Family Law, which was turned into a television series, and Gaysia: Adventures in the Queer East. Benjamin started a hashtag for men in response to #MeToo that took off around the world, #HowIWillChange.

Jeannette Francis, also known as Jan Fran, is a journalist and host of SBSVICELAND’s, The Feed. She has shot and produced documentaries and news and current affairs programming across the globe, including Bangladesh, Uganda, and the United States. One of Jeanette’s professional interests is women’s issues and her role has seen her explore the #MeToo movement.