As the Kavanaugh debacle shows, the #MeToo culture is unfair to men

Judge Brett Kavanaugh was already a nominee disliked by many before accusations of sexual misconduct threw his confirmation process into a mire and made Kavanaugh a target of death threats and national hatred. The investigation of these claims has turned Kavanaugh’s once likely confirmation into a national debate.

Amid discussion of his teenage social life, calendar, and drinking habits, what doesn’t seem to matter is that there is little to no evidence that Kavanaugh is guilty of the crimes of which he is accused. In the world of #MeToo, we are facing a culture where evidence is not mandatory for a perpetrator's conviction. Instead, we have cultivated an atmosphere of “guilty until proven innocent”, which is leading our culture down a slippery slope of sexism and injustice. But where does that leave innocent men?

There are, of course, horrific crimes that are unacceptable, despicable, and have no place in our society. As a result, accusations like these must be taken seriously. It is also true that every victim (or potential victim), including the Kavanaugh accusers, has a right to be heard.

The difference, however, is that they do not have a right to be believed.

This sentiment is not shared by the supporters of the #BelieveSurvivors and #BelieveWomen campaign.Spearheaded by Sens. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., and Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., the campaign advocates for a “believe first, confirm second” approach to reports of sexual violence. Unfortunately, this approach is in complete opposition to our current legislative system. No matter how horrific the accusation, our justice system requires a burden of proof. Consider the alternative: failing to require proof in the form of genuine evidence would be to hand women a dangerous tool — the ability to accuse any man of these crimes and ruin his life on a dime.

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