#IWill

We live in a society that celebrates the objectification of women (and men). No one would say that, but actions speak louder than words. For instance, we celebrate pornography, and not just secretly behind closed doors anymore, but brazenly and out in the open. Movies, books, and magazines have brought media like 50 Shades of Grey, Magic Mike, Game of Thrones, The Wolf of Wall Street (the list could go on and on) into the mainstream market and transformed porn from being a dirty little secret into a public mainstream celebration. It’s hard to find a movie that doesn’t feature porn these days.

We celebrate and praise men like Hugh Hefner calling him “the man”, “a stud”, and “an Icon” when the only legacy he left is the monetization of the objectification of women. He grew an industry that is widely known for it’s often (legal) abuses and victimization of the vulnerable, and yet we praise and admire him.

We promote a random hook-up culture. We literally don’t think twice about clubbing, excusing the act of having complete strangers grope and hump us as “dancing.” Girls are taught that to get attention they need to show some skin and be a “naughty girl”, and men are taught that to be respected they need to be bad boys and aggressive. “Going home alone” is looked at as a defeat, and waking up next to a stranger the following morning is seen as normal. Anyone who doesn’t agree with these things is considered legalistic or “lacking freedom”.

Our music features lyrics like: “Put Molly all in her champagne, she ain’t even know it/I took her home and I enjoyed that, she ain’t even know it.” We will dance to, sing at the top of our lungs, and purchase this kind of trash all day even though it blatantly promotes date-rape culture.

We love places like Hooters and Twin Peaks, idolize women like Marilyn Monroe, and dress up for Halloween as playboy bunnies, pimps, and outfits that are just generally objectifying. Sports Illustrated’s Swimsuit Edition or Cosmo magazine’s Bachelor edition make no effort to hide their blatant display of men and women as nothing more than objects to be selfishly enjoyed. We have entire online communities, websites, and apps set up for sole purpose of random sexual hook-ups. Our ENTIRE culture, from head to toe, is submersed in a sexualized mindset that knows no other standard other than one that views women as sexual objects to satisfy our selfish pleasure.

This #metoo campaign has been heartbreaking to see how widespread abuse has been. I hope that it continues to give women the boldness and strength to speak out and seek justice for the atrocities so many have experienced. I hope that even more women (and men) speak out.

While I see the power and beauty of this campaign and support it 110% I can’t help but notice the lack of effectiveness it will have as long as we continue to tolerate these depraved mindsets in our culture, yet condemn them in our personal lives. It is counter productive to on one hand recognize and call out the evil of sexual harassment, and yet on the other hand engage in cultural norms that promote the objectification of women. We must be clear about where we stand when it comes to this type of moral depravity and attack it’s influence on our society everywhere that it lurks. Fight it on every front. Press charges. Call the offenders out publicly, and while you’re doing that refuse to support the music, movies, books, activities, celebrities, and societal norms that are creating a greenhouse for more men to become the kind of men that cause #metoo stories. Let’s begin to dismantle this giant that seems to hold the soul of our country in its vicious grip. Let’s move forward with solidarity and focus recognizing and calling out this mindset everywhere it exists.

Please don’t misunderstand me, I’m not in any way trying to place the blame for the actions of predators on others. The men (and women) who are guilty of sexual harassment and worse are solely responsible for their actions. It is most certainly in no way the victim’s fault. I am not trying to excuse their actions. There is no excuse. I’m simply trying to get us to recognize the enemy in places where he has tried to remain hidden and to seek justice on those fronts as well

#IWill do my part to stop sexual harassment.

Living to touch God’s Heart,
Chris Ulery
Divine-Romance.com