Mark Ruffalo and wife Sunrise Coigney. INQUIRER.net stock photo
Mark Ruffalo has been vocal about fighting sexual aggression, following news that Hollywood executive Harvey Weinstein has been taking advantage of actresses for decades.
On Twitter, he condemned Weinstein’s gross sexual misconduct, stating that it was “a disgusting abuse of power and horrible.”
The “Avengers” actor now calls for men to be part of the solution in ending rape culture using the hashtag #HowIWillChange.
For his part, Ruffalo vowed in a tweet, “I will never catcall a woman again.”
“Growing up we were taught from watching movies that a catcall was a compliment. I would do it to friends and girlfriends.”
It was his wife, French-American actress Sunrise Coigney who taught him to be better.
“Sunrise clued me in that it was totally inappropriate. Not cool. Not a compliment. Gross.”
I will never Cat call a woman again. Growing up we were taught from watching movies that a cat call was a compliment. I would do it to friends and girlfriends. Sunrise clued me in that it was totally inappropriate. Not cool. Not a compliment. Gross. #HowIWillChange
— Mark Ruffalo (@MarkRuffalo) October 19, 2017
Responses to the hashtag include men promising to call out harassment and to speak up when they hear sexist statements.
Calling out harassment when I see it. As for the people saying #NotAllMen, no it’s not all men, but it’s too fucking many. #HowIWillChange
— Nathaniel Prince (@xanthan18) October 18, 2017
#HowIWillChange: I will confront anyone who make sexist statement about women even as silly jokes.
— Fabian Haquin (@inj4ll) October 18, 2017
There were also vows to stop victim-blaming and standing up for women in uncomfortable situations.
I will never blame a victim, and I will never stand and watch as a man makes unwanted advances on a woman #HowIWillChange
— Michael (@TrippyTrappy_Jr) October 17, 2017
Ruffalo has also expressed support for the #MeToo movement, which encourages women around the world to tell their personal story of sexual assault and harassment.
Thank you @Alyssa_Milano for reintroducing this important movement. #MeToo https://t.co/3DSGxfaKll
— Mark Ruffalo (@MarkRuffalo) October 18, 2017
Emilie Buchwald, author of “Transforming a Rape Culture” defines rape culture as “a complex set of beliefs that encourage male sexual aggression and supports violence against women.”
“The more we make space for women to feel safe to come out, and us men have got to stand up and protect them and say it is wrong, the quicker kind of things like this will stop,” said Ruffalo at the Sydney premiere of “Thor: Ragnarok”. JB
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