In 2017, we watched and listened as women came forward with their experiences with harassment and sexual assault as part of #MeToo, a movement started by activist Tarana Burke over a decade ago. The #MeToo movement was catapulted because of the women who brought sexual misconduct accusations against film producer Harvey Weinstein. At that time, actress Alyssa Milano asked anyone who had been a victim of sexual harassment or had been assaulted to write “MeToo” as a status to bring awareness and concern to the problem. The message was clear and easy to understand. These two small words became a hashtag that spread like wildfire worldwide and became a charge for women and men to speak openly about their background with sexual harassment or assault.
Why does the media want to label someone’s behavior as “sexual misconduct”? It’s the safest word to use against powerful men. Sexual misconduct is not a legal term (in most states). It doesn’t refer to specific criminal behavior or even a civil violation, like sexual harassment. It’s the safest description to use because it does not necessarily mean that someone did something illegal. But “sexual misconduct” is pretty broad — it can cover everything from asking a work subordinate out on a date to pressuring them for sex in exchange for career advancement. Such imprecise language can leave readers wondering how serious the allegations are and whether the behavior is against the law.
Since April 2017, more than 250 powerful, influential people have been accused of sexual misconduct. These people include celebrities such as Bill O’Reilly, Morgan Freeman, Stan Lee, Sylvester Stallone, and Ryan Seacrest. Others included on the list were politicians such as Brett Kavanaugh and Tom Friedman. Of the 250 people on the list, only three of them were women. Of the three women, one is FOX newsperson Kimberly Guifoyle and the other two were politicians Cristina Garcia and Andrea Ramsey. No one can deny that sexual misconduct is real and often goes unreported. However, what constitutes sexual misconduct?
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However, those being accused of sexual misconduct can often be victims themselves. Every person who cries “me too” is not a victim. There are often false accusations made against others. These accusations are often not followed up on and not retracted as being inaccurate. When a woman accuses a man of sexual misconduct is he innocent until proven guilty or is he guilty by association? Concerning the confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court, President Trump said, “A man’s life is in tatters. A man’s life is shattered.” According to President Trump, “It’s becoming a common argument: False accusations of sexual assault are a serious problem, perhaps even more serious than sexual assault itself.” ‘You could be somebody that was perfect your entire life, and somebody could accuse you of something.’
The worst part of the accusation is that it seems that the world wants the accusation to be true. When it was reported that Brett Kavanaugh had been accused of sexual misconduct various news stations, reporters, politicians, and Hollywood A-listers immediately took to the airways and internet to bash his reputation, his integrity, and his family without one piece of evidence to support the accusers claim. It was simply hearsay. The United States Senator Mazie Hirono of Hawaii tried to justify the harsh treatment of Kavanaugh by stating, “ Kavanaugh has not been accused of a crime by a prosecuting body. His liberty isn’t at stake. He’s just a guy who’s up for a job. When you’re applying for a job, an employer doesn’t have to prove you’re guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to discard you from the running. They can simply not hire you, deciding you’re not a good fit, and there’s no onus on them to provide evidence that you’ve done something wrong. We’re actually in a court of credibility at this point.”
Up for a job? Are they serious? Diane Feinstein, Cory Boker, as well as others tried everything within their power to halt the confirmation. There were no formal charges, no trial, and no substantial evidence to support the quick verdict of “GUILTY”. Brett Kavanaugh showed us how to fight for what is right even though it’s hard. They were trying every way possible to destroy his reputation. It didn’t matter if the allegations were true or not. Kavanaugh’s response to the accusations was that America is about fairness and that the process protects people. He concluded that all he wanted was the opportunity to defend his integrity in a Senate hearing. Why did Kavanaugh fight vigorously to be heard before the Senate panel? His character and credibility were being widely questioned, which meant that his suitability for a position on the Supreme Court was being questioned and his reputation before his daughters, his wife, his family, and his nation was being destroyed.
Another celebrity that was accused of sexual misconduct was Ryan Seacrest. He too fought for his name to be exonerated. In November 2017, he joined a hit list of men across the United States to be accused of sexual misconduct. Someone who had once worked for E!News filed a complaint suggesting that he had inappropriate behavior toward her. Seacrest; however, addressed his accusations head-on. In a strategic move, Seacrest released a pre-emptive statement both announcing and denying the coming accusation. He also said that he made her feel anything but respected, he was sorry. He called the accusation “reckless,” pleaded his innocence and said he would cooperate with any investigation into the matter. ( ) He stated that he knew of his innocence. “Regardless of the confidence I had that there was no merit to the allegations, my name would likely soon appear on the lists of those suspected of despicable words and deeds. The pressures of our overflowing news feeds would insist on it.” ( ) As details emerged about the accusation, it was found that the woman had asked for “hush” money to keep quiet. Seacrest was given his job back by his employer.
The false accusations of sexual misconduct are not limited to just Hollywood A-listers. Young men on college campuses across America are finding themselves defending their reputation, as well. For example, Joseph Roberts a young man who served in the Navy decided to enroll in Savannah State University. While there he was accused by two students of verbal and online sexual harassment. The allegations were sent via email from the Office of Student Affairs. They officially suspended him. Within minutes, his picture was posted campus-wide by email alert with the notice, “If you see me — immediately report to Public Safety.’” ( ) He was suspended the same day the complaint was made without receiving due process. Again, what happened to the Constitutional right that we as Americans are innocent until proven guilty?
Due process of law does protect people who are accused of crimes because their liberty is at stake. They can end up in prison, so it has to be extremely difficult to prove guilt and lock them up. People are bent on accepting the words of the accuser as truth and the negative even without evidence or proper legal steps. Acting as his attorney, Roberts sued the university, but the case was dismissed. Despite the battle to clear his name, he completed his degree online and is now enrolled in a California law school.
Many women, including mothers of boys, are using the hashtag #ProtectOurBoys to denounce what they consider false claims. We’ve seen some high-profile cases in which men were wrongfully accused of sexual assault: for example, the Duke lacrosse players and the former football player whose alleged victim later admitted she wasn’t raped. It is a difficult time in history to be raising boys. They are extremely vulnerable to false accusations being said or filed against them. All it takes is one disgruntle co-worker, one jilted ex-girlfriend, or a bad neighbor to make statements about a young boy or man that taints their reputations forever. These accusations could ultimately cost him his job, his education, his family, or even his freedom. The days of being innocent until proven guilty are a distant memory. Easy access to cell phones, the internet, and groups looking to bandwagon any movement that could potentially destroy others are within hands grasps.
Why is there great concern about false allegations of sexual harassment (or other forms of harassment) when few formal complaint investigations result in findings of false claims? Simply put, the stakes are high. There may be negative impacts on career and reputation. Potential job loss or discipline is a reality. The stress, time, effort, frustration, and financial cost take a toll on the parties. Establishing the basis for a complaint, or defending against allegations, mainly if this entails proving a negative—that something did not happen when it is alleged it did—is often a lengthy and challenging process. The embarrassment and emotions attached to allegations and evidence can undermine even the strongest individual. There is no doubt that sexual misconduct is real and growing in the United States and across the world. Every day many men and women enter the workplace with fear of unwanted sexual comments or advances made toward them. The chart below documents the percentage of .
