I haven't been groped. So my New Year's resolution is #WeToo

I haven't been groped. So my New Year's resolution is #WeToo

It’s early 2015 and you’re on the board of Volkswagen. Or early 2014 finds you on the audit committee of Tesco. Perhaps it’s 2011 and Olympus. Someone brings you testimony (not proof) of something so shocking, so widespread in its consequences, that it’s off any business-as-usual radar. What would you have done?

It’s only human to wonder. Moments like that are extraordinary: would we measure up? Provided we don’t treat ourselves like open books which we’ve already read, the wondering could help us to be ready – to be ‘heroes in training’, to borrow psychologist Philip Zimbardo’s phrase. Of course the moment of truth may never come. Besides, you and I are not on the boards of companies like that.

Instead it’s early 2018 and you’re a member of the human race. Maybe you’re not a director, but you might easily be part of the most powerful 5%, globally. Last year an unprecedented number of women and men came forward with allegations of sexual violation in the workplace or the public sphere. What happened was way off any business-as-usual radar. Is 2018 one of those moments of truth?

I want to suggest yes, especially for those of us who haven’t been sexually violated (I haven’t). Our actions will determine whether 2017 was a breakthrough towards human dignity for all or ten thousand screams into silence.

We all get to choose is whether 2017’s outpouring is defined as a public or a private matter. Those who spoke out as #metoo (and any agonising over whether to speak): are they ‘them’ or are they us? Is there a subtle distance, cloaked in admiration, sympathy or fear, or do we take up our responsibility?

Quite rightly, 2017 gave prominence to the violated. But a drama focused on the violated and the accused hides the bystander. Quentin Tarantino acknowledged that role in relation to Weinstein: “I knew enough to do more than I did … I wish I had taken responsibility for what I heard. If I had done the work I should have done then, I would have had to not work with him.”

For bystanders, the timing of moments of truth lies in the hands of others, or chance events. What we can do proactively is commit now to speak up as and when. This demonstrates listening appropriately to what we have already heard, and strengthening ourselves to act if we hear something more. We might even tip the culture of our workplace or public sphere. 

2017 was the year of #MeToo, speaking out. There’s a good case for making 2018 the year of #WeToo, the kind of listening which takes responsibility. Human health needs both. One possibility: cut the headline of this blog and post it at your workplace (or online). People will ask what it means: be glad to tell them.

Douglas Board (@BoardWryter) is head of Coachmatch career management and a satiric novelist. In January 2018 his speaking up will include ‘The Rats’ , a free novelette focused on the world’s most powerful misogynist-in-chief.

Thanks for this. An example of thoughtful and concise leadership on this major issue.

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Sue Corneck

Psychoanalytic Psychotherapist

6y

I liked your piece thank you. It is so important to find a voice for change. I hope you are well. Sue

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Christina Patterson

Journalist, author, broadcaster, executive and team coach (ACC)

6y

Excellent piece, Douglas. I really, really hope this is the year things change.

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Rob Warwick

Professor of Management and Organisational Learning at University of Chichester

6y

Well said Douglas. I thought Quentin Tarantino's comment at the time was very telling, perhaps a sign that people are seeing and acting in the world differently.

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Jo Hill

Exec Director Change and Planning, Bank of England and Vice Chair Money and Mental Health Policy Institute

6y

Another thought provoking offering Douglas #wetoo

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