Comments on: Moving Beyond the “Harvey Weinstein Extreme”: the Next Phase of #MeToo

By: Justin Foxton

Justin Foxton — Mon, 15 Oct 2018 08:41:42 +0000

Yes I fully agree – there has been significant progress in the past years. But your questions are vital if we are to continue this progress and indeed speed it up. What can each of us do? For me it all comes back to “what do we have in our hands?”. How do we use our privilege for good? You are doing this with what you have – no doubt in my mind.You are using your position and space to live (and in so doing create) a new kind of reality. This sometimes involves speaking up or speaking against. But for me it mostly involves being the change. Our challenge is how do we do more?

By: Thomas Holtz

Thomas Holtz — Mon, 15 Oct 2018 08:11:26 +0000

Like you Justin, I am very aware of the injustice that is being committed on a daily basis at a systemic level. I also feel that I do not directly contribute to this abuse myself. So there is this nagging question of what am I called on to do? Clearly, like during apartheid, white people where the beneficiaries of the system, here men are the beneficiaries and why, at an intuitive or unconscious level would I break something down that is benefiting me and make me quite unpopular with some of my less conscious male colleagues!?
What I do know is that the high profile that Trump is getting we are definitely seeing a polarization and it seems to me quite self-evident how the “old” forces are kicking against the progress that we are seeing. I think that 20 or so years ago Trump may not have been seen as such an ogre.

By: Justin Foxton

Justin Foxton — Mon, 15 Oct 2018 07:48:37 +0000

In reply to Jessica. Thanks so much Jessica!

By: Justin Foxton

Justin Foxton — Mon, 15 Oct 2018 07:48:15 +0000

In reply to Kamie Pillay. Thank you Kamie!

By: Lesl

Lesl — Mon, 15 Oct 2018 07:47:32 +0000

Thank you

By: Justin Foxton

Justin Foxton — Mon, 15 Oct 2018 07:47:29 +0000

In reply to whatinsectareyou. This is a classic! Thanks for sharing Marlies. A time will come when women like her see it, and speak out there and then. On the one hand we men need to take full responsibility. And on the other women have to take full responsibility. Thank you for saying something to her.

By: whatinsectareyou

whatinsectareyou — Sat, 13 Oct 2018 15:44:38 +0000

Here is an example of what you mean, something I witnessed a few days ago at Joburg airport Wimpy: At the next table a middle-aged, scruffy looking white male was talking an endless stream of B-S at a beautiful young black lady. He spoke loudly and brashly, she listened politely. The content of his never-ending monologue was mostly random nonsense, interspersed with uninvited personal information of a ‘gendered nature’, like how he just loves gorgeous blondes with long wavy hair, “I mean, who doesn’t?”, about his many girlfriends, about women’s wonderful smooth, fragrant skin compared to men’s horrible hairy, muscly bodies, things his ex-wife had said, how he really digs blondes, about speed dating, about how he finds Cape Town a good place to pick up girls, especially blondes, … On and on it went. “You really like your blondes,” she remarked dryly. Why did he go on about that? Was it to reassure her that she needn’t worry about him coming onto her, or what?

Whenever she tried to say something (which by the way was actually intelligible and worth listening to) he wouldn’t let her finish, but would interrupt her rudely and loudly with further BS. They did seem to know each other, but I had to make sure. So when she went to the bathroom, I followed, and flagged her down on the way out. “Are you ok?” I asked her. “Yes, why?” – “Do you know that guy at your table?” – “Yes, he is a colleague.” – “Ok, well, I just wanted to check, I couldn’t help overhearing. Wow, what a load of B-S!” – “I’m used to him. But why, what did you pick up?” – “Well it sounded like sexual harassment. And I just wanted to make sure you were alright.” – She laughed, and said “That is so sweet of you.” – “Yeah, well, funny things happen at airports.” I wanted to say “Sorry you have work with such a jerk”, but I left it. Now I’m thinking, I should have gone and said something to him too. But what can one say? And how would he have responded to a woman nearer his own age, and nowhere near as pretty as his colleague, telling him off? Hmm…

By: Jessica

Jessica — Sat, 13 Oct 2018 03:25:27 +0000

Thank you Justin, this is so true as I reflect and look back on my past career of 28 years in a corporate environment where I was so often challenged by my fellow colleagues. Love and enjoy reading your blog. Jessica

By: Kamie Pillay

Kamie Pillay — Fri, 12 Oct 2018 15:58:59 +0000

Bravo Justin ???? Your final line summarizes it all so well for me (as a woman) : “I need to feel that way to identify better with women”… whilst I am a firm believer in open discussion and forms of diversity training which bring awareness to our plight; there are still some individuals who find it difficult to understand how and why women experience these tensions on a daily basis. Being able to identify a level of discomfort like you have, is admirable. Thank you for being a great example to those around you.