#MenToo is a social movement in India which was started against false sexual harassment allegations in MeToo movement in India. The movement was widely spread out after Bollywood actress Pooja Bedi and Founder of Purush Aayog[1] Barkha Trehan appealed to bring gender neutral laws and investigation,[2][3] after actor Karan Oberoi was arrested on 5 May 2019 due to a sexual harassment complaint filed against him by his ex-girlfriend.[4][5][6]

History

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2018

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A Bangalore-based NGO, Children's Rights Initiative for Shared Parenting (CRISP), started the #MenToo initiative in October 2018 in response to #MeToo movement.[7][8][9] Protestors in Bengaluru said that their movement is against false cases registered under Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code, and added that their fight is also against the ordeal of children who are raised by single parents following a disturbing separation.[9]

2019 (Karan Oberoi)

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Actor Karan Oberoi was arrested on 5 May 2019, after a 34-year-old woman claimed that he had raped her on multiple occasions and had also extorted money and gifts from her.[10][11] However, they were in a consensual relationship as per the affidavit filed by Karan Oberoi in court.[10] Immediately after his arrest, his friend and Bollywood actress Pooja Bedi came in his support to bring gender neutral laws and investigation to launch the #MenToo movement. Australian social commentator Bettina Arndt has written a book with the same title.[5]

2022 (Johnny Depp)

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In February 2019, actor Johnny Depp filed a defamation lawsuit against actress Amber Heard for $50 million over her allegedly defaming op-ed of him in The Washington Post.[12][13] The case rose after Heard was found to have allegedly abused Depp while they were married; Heard fought these claims by claiming the other way around.[13] On 11 April 2022, the official trial began. On 1 June, Depp and Heard were both found liable of defamation.[14] Heard was obligated to pay approximately $10.35 million in damages.[15] The case sparked the rise of the #MenToo movement outside of India.[16][17]

Protest

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Twitter

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Twitter users tweeted with #MenToo to show support with accused Karan Oberoi and protested against the unfair laws that target men.[18] Twitter users were posting under the hashtag, claiming that these types of accusations cause suicide.[18]

Bengaluru

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In late 2018, amidst the #MeToo movement, Bengaluru based NGO CRISP had carried out protest in the city for demanding justice for the victims who have faced the consequences due to false cases registered under IPC section 498A, in addition to the ordeal of children who are raised by single parents following a separation.[9][7]

Mumbai

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Number of people from various fields, including actors and various men's right activists participated in the peaceful Dharna organised at Azad Maidan, Mumbai on 15 June 2019 to support #MenToo movement.[19][20] Karan Oberoi and Pooja Bedi also participated in the protest.[21][20][19]

Views

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Men Too movement was being applauded by the Men's Rights Activist. Prominent Men Rights Activist like KD Jha, Deepika Narayan Bhardwaj, Barkha Trehan etc are continuously raising their voice to highlight the Gender Discrimination faced by Men as a Gender "[22]

Actress Tanushree Dutta who had pioneered #MeToo movement India had called #MenToo movement ridiculous. She further said,

"You know, I can’t help but laugh when I hear such ridiculous things such as #mentoo and it makes me angry that women in positions of public domain and influence will still stoop to massage the male ego to find their acceptance."[23][24]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Gaikwad, Pramod (2019-05-22). "MeToo vs MenToo: Human rights activist challenges Tanushree Dutta for an open debate". www.ibtimes.co.in. Retrieved 2022-02-25.
  2. ^ "MenToo after MeToo". www.telegraphindia.com. Retrieved 2019-07-21.
  3. ^ Thakur, Ramesh (2019-07-09). "Moving from #MeToo to #MenToo". The Japan Times. Retrieved 2019-07-21.
  4. ^ Singh, Amrita (2019-06-21). "How Karan Oberoi became the poster boy of India's #MenToo 'movement'". Business Standard India. Retrieved 2019-07-21.
  5. ^ a b "Pooja Bedi on Karan Oberoi rape charges: It's time to begin a #MenToo movement - Times of India ►". The Times of India. 10 May 2019. Retrieved 2019-07-21.
  6. ^ "The curious case of Karan Oberoi: Is it time for #MenToo?". The Week. Retrieved 2019-07-21.
  7. ^ a b "Now, Bengaluru NGO begins #MenToo campaign". Deccan Herald. 2018-10-24. Retrieved 2019-07-23.
  8. ^ "'Men Too': An anti-Me Too protest in Bengaluru that's quite confused about its aim". www.thenewsminute.com. 2018-10-21. Retrieved 2019-07-23.
  9. ^ a b c "Bengaluru NGO organises 'Men Too' protest in response to #MeToo movement". www.timesnownews.com. 22 October 2018. Retrieved 2019-07-23.
  10. ^ a b Vidya (June 7, 2019). "Rape-accused actor Karan Oberoi granted bail". India Today. Retrieved 2019-07-21.
  11. ^ "#MeToo: TV actor and singer Karan Oberoi arrested for raping, blackmailing woman". The Economic Times. 2019-05-09. Retrieved 2019-07-21.
  12. ^ Wulfsohn, Joseph (1 June 2022). "Johnny Depp verdict: WaPo should be held accountable for defamatory Amber Heard op-ed, Dave Portnoy says". Fox News. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  13. ^ a b Nyren, Erin (March 2, 2019). "Johnny Depp Reportedly Sues Amber Heard for $50M Over Washington Post Op-Ed". Variety. Archived from the original on May 5, 2021. Retrieved March 3, 2019. 'The op-ed depended on the central premise that Ms. Heard was a domestic abuse victim and that Mr. Depp perpetrated domestic violence against her,' Depp's lawyers allege. ... 'This frivolous action is just the latest of Johnny Depp's repeated efforts to silence Amber Heard,' said Heard's attorney.
  14. ^ Kurtz, Judy (2022-06-01). "Jury finds Depp, Heard both liable for defamation". The Hill. Retrieved 2024-06-15.
  15. ^ Melendez, Pilar; Piccoli, Sean (1 June 2022). "Bombshell Verdict: Johnny Depp Wins Defamation Case, Amber Heard Must Pay $10M". The Daily Beast. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  16. ^ Chiu, Fengyen (23 May 2022). "#MenToo Trends On Twitter Amid Johnny Depp Vs Amber Heard Case". Mashable India. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  17. ^ Web Desk (24 May 2022). "Johnny Depp vs Amber Heard trial: #MenToo trends on Twitter". The News International. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  18. ^ a b "Netizens Float #MenToo Hashtag to Protest Against 'Unfair' Rape Laws that Target Innocent Men". News18. 26 May 2019. Retrieved 2019-07-21.
  19. ^ a b "Karan Oberoi, Pooja Bedi and activists participate in the #MenToo movement dharna in Mumbai - Times of India ►". The Times of India. 15 June 2019. Retrieved 2019-07-21.
  20. ^ a b "#MenToo: Karan Oberoi among several joins dharna at Azad Maidan". mid-day. 2019-06-16. Retrieved 2019-07-21.
  21. ^ "Karan Oberoi, Pooja Bedi Participate in #MenToo Protest". The Quint. 2019-06-15. Retrieved 2019-07-21.
  22. ^ "'#MenToo is as important as #MeToo' - Times of India". The Times of India. 13 May 2019. Retrieved 2019-07-30.
  23. ^ jha, subhash k (2019-05-16). "#MenToo is ridiculous: Tanushree Dutta". The Asian Age. Retrieved 2019-07-30.
  24. ^ "Tanushree Dutta discredits #MenToo movement". www.aninews.in. Retrieved 2019-07-30.