The world is changing rapidly. People are becoming more liberal and accepting towards different kinds of sexual orientations. But there is one thing that remains constant - people are still judged for their sexual preferences and actions. One such instance was seen during the MeToo movement when many women came out in open to talk about the abuse they have faced from male colleagues and bosses. While this movement did bring down some prominent personalities and changed the way society looks at consent, it also revealed how deeply rooted misogyny and patriarchy were within our system. The leaders who were accused of harassment were given second chances because of their "great work" while their victims were shamed, blamed and ostracized. This gave rise to a debate about institutional tolerance of leaders' sexual transgressions.
Institutional tolerance means that institutions like media, government, corporates etc. look away or ignore cases where their leaders engage in sexual misconduct. They give them a second chance, which sets a bad example and creates an environment wherein other men take advantage of women. It has long term sociopolitical consequences as it normalizes violence against women and leads to a culture of silence around sex. Here are three ways in which institutional tolerance impacts society:
1. It makes women feel unsafe: Institutional tolerance sends a message that women's bodies don't matter. When leaders get away with sexual assault, it becomes easier for men to justify their actions. This leads to a culture of fear among women, especially working women. They feel unsafe going to workplaces, social gatherings and even homes. They start to question every interaction and remain on guard all the time.
2. It hinders women's progress: Women face a lot of hurdles when they try to break into the professional world. But institutional tolerance of leaders' sexual transgressions takes it to another level altogether. It shows that women aren't respected enough to be taken seriously in the office. In such an atmosphere, it becomes difficult for them to prove themselves and they end up leaving their jobs out of frustration or fear. This leaves a gap in leadership roles which further widens the gender inequality gap.
3. It reinforces power structures: Powerful men who get away with sexual assault have more power over others. They can use this power to manipulate situations and demand favors from people. This creates an unequal power structure wherein women lose out and men gain control. This is not only detrimental to women but also bad for democracy as it undermines equality and justice. It is high time we realize that tolerating leaders' sexual transgressions will lead us nowhere and make our society worse. Let's stop giving second chances and hold them accountable for their actions.
What are the long-term sociopolitical consequences of institutional tolerance of leaders' sexual transgressions?
While no one can predict the precise outcomes of any given scandal with certainty, there is evidence that suggests that public revelations of politicians' and other high-profile individuals' extramarital affairs have serious political implications for society at large. In particular, the public perception of these events may affect citizens' trust in democratic institutions and undermine public support for government leadership.