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Victims of sexual abuse are often subjected to victim blaming and shaming by the society which make their nightmarish ordeals all the more disturbing to deal with. But that does not stop society from dissuading them from speaking about it, and they are forced to suffer in silence.
Recently, men and women on social media tweeted their heart-wrenching stories of sexual abuse with #MeToo to raise awareness on how rampant this problem is in the world. Celebrities too joined the movement to extend support to the survivors and let them know that they are not alone.
In response to #MeToo, people are now tweeting what they would change in themselves to stop the spread of rape culture in the world with #HowIWillChange to challenge the established norms of patriarchy and support victims of sexual abuse.
Australian journalist and screenwriter Benjamin Law kicked off the #HowIWillChange and urged other men to do the same so that this menace does not go unchecked anymore.
Guys, it's our turn.
After yesterday's endless #MeToo stories of women being abused, assaulted and harassed, today we say #HowIWillChange.
— Benjamin Law ç¾…æ—能 (@mrbenjaminlaw) October 16, 2017
He also tweeted a thread about how he would change his actions to check his daily habits and words so he does not unwittingly give any support to rape culture.
#HowIWillChange: Acknowledge that if all women I know has been sexually harassed, abused or assaulted, then I know perpetrators. Or am one.
— Benjamin Law ç¾…æ—能 (@mrbenjaminlaw) October 16, 2017
#HowIWillChange: Recognise I don't need to be a perpetrator to be a bad guy. Questioning harassment, not doing anything about it—all as bad.
— Benjamin Law ç¾…æ—能 (@mrbenjaminlaw) October 16, 2017
#HowIWillChange: Recognise anything we offer to do using this hashtag is already done by women every day and they cop endless abuse for it.
— Benjamin Law ç¾…æ—能 (@mrbenjaminlaw) October 16, 2017
His tweets resonated with many users who took to Twitter to pledge how they would change their behaviour to accommodate themselves to fight against sexual assault and support the victims and survivors.
1. No more going along…
#HowIWillChange I'm going to call out harassment, every time. I'll call out toxic masculinity, every time. No more going along to get along.
— Ben Jackson (@DadoftheDecade) October 18, 2017
2. Your apathy makes you a perpetrator, realise that.
My apathy has made me an enabler. No more. I'll either call out a harasser or report him/her to an appropriate body. #HowIWillChange
— mob is a baby (@RawrsomeRogue) October 20, 2017
3. No more silence
I will call out other men on sexism. I won’t be complacent with the status quo. I won’t allow another man to harass a woman. #HowIWillChange
— RedBeard (@PhilRedbeard) October 18, 2017
4. It may not be all, but it’s too many
Calling out harassment when I see it. As for the people saying #NotAllMen, no it's not all men, but it's too fucking many. #HowIWillChange
— Nathaniel Prince (@xanthan18) October 18, 2017
5. Taking the initiative
https://twitter.com/AlexDruuuce/status/920068265300258818
6. Never blame the victim
I will never blame a victim, and I will never stand and watch as a man makes unwanted advances on a woman #HowIWillChange
— Mic (@TrippyTrappy_Jr) October 17, 2017
7. We were a little shocked by this but atleast he knows now that it’s the wrong thing to do.
I will never Cat call a woman again. Growing up we were taught from watching movies that a cat call was a compliment. I would do it to friends and girlfriends. Sunrise clued me in that it was totally inappropriate. Not cool. Not a compliment. Gross. #HowIWillChange
— Mark Ruffalo (@MarkRuffalo) October 19, 2017
8. Unlearn your toxicity
#HowIWillChange means not being a bystander while women expend emotional labour to protect their safety; no longer apathy, but action
— Dominic Bambi (@garliquorice) October 16, 2017
9. Thank you!
Women. You are not alone. I will fight this with you. I will raise my sons the right way. We hear you. It's time for change! #HowIWillChange
— Chrissant (@KneelB4Chris) October 17, 2017
10. This!
#HowIWillChange I'm never gonna witness a man being disrespectful to a women without making it known to them both how unacceptable it is.
— LeaderOfTheRebellion (@lynxHODB) October 20, 2017
11. He gets it
#HowIWillChange: I will confront anyone who make sexist statement about women even as silly jokes.
— Injall (@inj4ll) October 18, 2017
12. Be unafraid and smash rape culture
https://twitter.com/GrantKnepper2/status/920108214322171909
13. Never enable abusive behaviour
https://twitter.com/solwat/status/920066048291774464
14. It’s time to act
#HowIWillChange means not being a bystander while women expend emotional labour to protect their safety; no longer apathy, but action
— Dominic Bambi (@garliquorice) October 16, 2017
15. It begins at home
#HowIWillChange I will keep showing my 3 sons and one grandson how to honor & respect women.
Guys – meaningful change starts in the home.
— Jesse T. Smith (@Jesse_TSmith) October 17, 2017
16. NOW is the time to begin
The only moral response to the slew of stories coming out as a result of #metoo, is to take action & make changes. Now. #HowIWillChange pic.twitter.com/DfUpu7jm4P
— Mifzal Mohammed (@mifzalmohd) October 19, 2017
17. Something to get the ball rolling
i made a list of prompts for the #HowIWillChange hashtag. in case any one gets stumped pic.twitter.com/5iHF4nj4kX
— lor.jpg (@lmarlene_) October 17, 2017
18. Take note.
19. Something to get you thinking
20. Just stop doing these
As expected, there is no dearth of people who have come out in their defence and bashing the hashtag. The fact that so many men have taken it upon themselves to destroy the very roots of rape culture fill us with a little hope that there are still people who see the problem as it really is and want to be part of the solution.
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