Advertisement
Dublin: 5 °C Thursday 28 March, 2024
me too

Pamela Anderson should ask why some men 'feel paralysed' by #MeToo, but she may not like the answer

‘I’ll probably get killed for saying that.’

“I think this feminism can go too far”, so said Pamela Anderson during a recent interview on Australian television.

Global Gift Gala - Madrid SIPA USA / PA Images SIPA USA / PA Images / PA Images

I’m a feminist, but I think that this third wave feminism is a bore; I think it paralyses men. I think that this Me Too movement is a bit too much for me. I’m sorry, I’ll probably get killed for saying that.

Sorry or not, the actress surged on with her assessment of a situation which has been documented in great detail by global media since The New Yorker’s exposé on Harvey Weinstein in October 2017.

My mother taught me don’t go to into a hotel with a stranger, and if someone answers the door in a bathrobe and it’s supposed to be a business meeting, maybe I should go with somebody else. 

“I think that some things are just common sense. Or if you go in, get the job,” she laughed in a remark which is likely to send shivers down the spine of many.

So, Pamela finds the recent wave of feminism ‘boring’. She fears that third-wave feminism ‘paralyses men’. And she thinks the #MeToo movement is ‘too much’.

When you unpack Pamela’s comments, you could argue that the overall sentiment has its roots in a feeling of utter exhaustion.

She’s ‘bored’ by the frequency with which attention is drawn to certain issues, she’s fatigued by the backlash born of the sharing of stories of sexual misconduct, and she’s overwhelmed by the fervour which has been stirred up since the launch of the MeToo movement.

Put simply; Pamela is drained by the narrative. And she’s not alone; most of us are drained by it. Make no mistake about it; it’s been an exceptionally difficult 12 months.

The vast majority of us has been left thoroughly rattled by the reality which has been illustrated through the establishment of the movement.

The vast majority of us have found ourselves stunned, and ultimately overwrought, by the frequency with which stories have been shared.

And the vast majority of us have found ourselves fazed by the fall-out born of it, and concerned over the ways we can seek to prevent and protect in the future.

But instead of focussing her attention on how to support those who have fallen victim to sexual misconduct or working towards safeguarding against the same in the future, Pamela has chosen to apportion blame, and she lays it at the feet of victims. 

Look, if Pamela is ‘bored’ by an ideology which seeks to raise awareness of certain issues; there’s not much anyone can do about that.

And if she finds the #MeToo movement ‘too much’, that’s her prerogative.

But to argue that third-wave feminism or the #MeToo movement has paralysed men is so wide of the mark as to be laughable.

But let’s try to assuage that concern, at the very least.

Put very, very simply; any man, who conducts himself in a respectful fashion towards both genders, and does not engage in sexual harassment, misconduct or violence, will not have been paralysed by third-wave feminism or any movement.

And any man who has found himself ‘paralysed’ by it, might want to ask himself why, since Pamela seemingly hasn’t seen fit to do it first.

DailyEdge is on Instagram!

Your Voice
Readers Comments
6
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Submit a report
    Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
    Thank you for the feedback
    Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

    Leave a commentcancel