The Dark Side Of #MeToo: What Happens When Men Are Falsely Accused

Article here. Excerpt:

'But everything is about balance. And in the wake of the movement came stories of men who were afraid of what might happen if they were falsely accused. Not long after I told my story on Twitter, a Morning Consult poll showed that 57% of U.S. adults were equally concerned for young women and the harassment they could face as they were for young men and the false allegations they could face. Stories have since come out showing that upwards of 60% of men are afraid to mentor women at work, fearing what will happen if they meet behind closed doors without a third party present. According to research from the Pew, a majority of respondents—both male and female—said that the movement has made it harder for men to know how to interact with women in the workplace.

It can be easy to dismiss these concerns, as many people have. They say we must believe all women. They say it’s a joke that men are afraid. They say that if men don’t do anything wrong, they have nothing to worry about. They say they should check their male privilege. They point out repeatedly that false reports only make up 2% of all claims. And they say that when false allegations do happen, the cost of those careers and reputations is a price they are willing to pay in favor of the movement.

The reality is that false accusations happen. And we need to talk about them.'