UPR hosts panel discussing Kavanaugh hearings, #MeToo

Photo courtesy of Tom Williams – Utah Public Radio 

Utah Public Radio continued their discussion about the #MeToo movement on Friday night with a panel at Utah State University highlighting the results of the Kavanaugh hearings.

Utah Women 20/20 is a UPR series that explores the opportunities and difficulties that face women today. The series explores topics such as gender disparity and elections. Within the last year, the #MeToo movement has been another subject of discussion.

“We decided to do an event to process the Kavanaugh hearings,” said Tom Williams, the host of the program and moderator for Friday night’s panel. “I was just realizing the other day that I haven’t fully processed the hearings.”

Judge Brett Kavanaugh was ultimately appointed Associate Justice of the Supreme Court despite allegations of sexual assaults levelled against him by Dr. Christine Blasey Ford last October. Ford was criticized for her allegations against Kavanaugh and ultimately the senate decided in favor of Kavanaugh.

The panelists at the UPR event reinforced many ideas that have been in the forefront of the country’s collective mind after the Kavanaugh hearings.

“What’s difficult about this process is that it did go through,” said Marisela Martinez-Cola, a USU Sociology professor. “Even though we had a brave, strong woman come forward, this is the stark reality.”

Felicia Gallegos, a panelist from Friday, said that the conversation sparked by the hearings is still worth having.

“It wasn’t just any conversation,” Gallegos said. “It was a conversation that was so personal, that resonated if you are a survivor or not, and it created waves, and I think it shook the country, and I think that’s still something we haven’t really settled on.”

Gallegos also said that survivors of sexual assault need people to listen to them.

“They have already had their options taken from them and they need to be able to choose what to do for themselves,” Gallegos said. “Don’t try to investigate their claims or tell them what to do. We shouldn’t think we know what a victim’s experience is like.”

Williams asked the other members of the panel “where we are at” in terms the Kavanaugh hearings, the 2020 elections and the #MeToo movement.

“Men need to decide whether they are going to recognize their toxic characteristics or not,” Gallegos said. “We are not mad at men, but so many young men are in a mindset that they are just part of a flow and that they have to be dominators and real men and that’s just what they do, but they aren’t having the conversations about what it’s like to be in a respectful relationship.”

Gender discrimination and sexual harassment continue to be big topics moving into the next election season. Williams recognized the importance of unity as the nation continues to consider these issues..

“It’s important to come together as we work through this,” Williams said.

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