#MeToo…a Social Experiment I Did Not Set Out To Make
*Disclaimer…I am taking a break from my regularly published comedy pieces to bring you this. I will be back with the jokes very shortly. But please do read on.
A few days ago I was scrolling through Facebook and iI started seeing a lot of status updates saying simply…
ME TOO
Upon further investigation I discovered that as a reaction to Harvey Weinsteingate… the following status update was the beginning of #MeToo…
If all the women who have been sexually harassed or assaulted wrote “Me too” as a status, we might give people a sense of the magnitude of the problem.
It hit home with me, as like so many women, I have a story. Whether the assault that women encounter is emotional or physical…whether it is a moment or ongoing…whether it is just a passing catcall or an inappropriate look or it is painful and dangerous and scary…it all matters. So I do not diminish the pain anyone has felt because it all matters…that being said.
My experience was dark and scary and dangerous…and I was very very young…so it defined who I became. One person’s ugly act can change the trajectory of another’s lifetime. If you are lucky like I was you have a core of amazing people around you who give you a loving place to heal…so much so that years later when shockingly lightening struck again… in thankfully a milder form…I was able to heal from a place of strength I was happy to know I had.
I applaud the bravery of the women who told their stories. I choose not too. As a writer I live out loud so often…but in this one case I tell my story in private to those who I know are my very safest places to be. If you know my story know you are a very special soul.
But I care about adding my voice, and though usually my way is to use my humor and my words…this time I chose to create a picture that told a story. I removed all my makeup, and the vivid clothes and jewelry I hide behind. Because there are those times when the actions of other make you feel naked and ugly and alone. Then I sat behind my guitar…to show how music and all my other creative endeavors have helped me to turn pain into art and move on.
I posted it on my instagram https://www.instagram.com/marciesmolin and was prepared for stories from other women, or shout outs, or just quiet…because that all would be fine…I was not prepared for this…
When I checked my inbox on instagram a few hours later it was filled to the brim with messages such as this…
- I apologize in advance for the language…these are not my words…but those that came from the men who so obviously understood the #metoo campaign.
“Hey Sexy you look like such a bad bad girl I just want to Jizz all over your face”
“You’re just asking to be tied up and disciplined”
“I have a fuck room with a key just for you”
“You want me to dominate you, hold you down, spank you, and let you know who’s boss”
“Bend over bitch…Daddy’s home”
And finally…
“#metoo. I want to show you what bad girls get when they put it out there. #metoo! #metoo. Open up Cunt.”
I posted a photo for sisterhood, for solidarity, for clarity, and to reach out to those who maybe felt alone. This is what I got.
Because clearly I was asking for it.
Don’t forget to follow @Marcie Smolin and if you like the story please give it applause…and by applause I mean cluck in those little clapping hands below.
