Perhaps you have seen the hashtag “#openmouth and tilted head” on social media in recent days?
You have to go back a few days to understand its origin.
Starting point: a subscriber to the X network puts online the photo of the researcher, author and documentarian Léa Clermont-Dion who has just published the book Hi, are you okay? ? The objective of the book: to open a dialogue with boys on the notions of toxic masculinity, rape culture and consent. The author has already given several conferences and training courses on the subject throughout Quebec.
PHOTO FRANÇOIS ROY, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
The researcher, author and documentarian Léa Clermont-Dion
The individual in question accompanies his comment with the photo of Mme Clermont-Dion, and describes the latter as a “media parasite”, adding: “On the program: duckface validation of brainless and male = evil. »
The post sparked a lot of comments, including that of renowned songwriter Stéphane Venne, who wrote: “Since the world began, this pose (neck tilted sideways or backwards, mouth open) has been a sexual code hyper-known to both men and women, and both in real life and in art, it is a kind of invitation. »
Obviously, Mme Clermont-Dion publicly denounced the comments of the octogenarian who is a strategic communications advisor to the City of Montreal (!).
Let’s say it, this type of attack is recurring and well-worn: to devalue the words of a woman in the public space, or to silence her, we denigrate her, we humiliate her, we lower her to the rank of sexual object.
But it is not because it is recurring and worn out that the comment hurts any less.
Especially since it comes in a very specific context that must be remembered: the lyricist speaks of a woman who has just won a trial for sexual assault, a highly publicized trial on which the victim has often spoken out. .
Stéphane Venne’s comment also comes to us as the planet is shaken by the Mazan trial, in France, in which around fifty men – including the victim’s husband – are accused of having raped a woman under submission chemical. Despite the video images which show beyond any doubt that Mme Pelicot was raped, defense lawyers try to convince the judge that their clients are not “real rapists”. We are trying to sow doubt in the public’s mind: basically, Mme Wasn’t Pelicot a libertine? Are these really rapes?
PHOTO MARCO CAMPANOZZI, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
The lyricist Stéphane Venne, in 2017
Stéphane Venne’s comment is in line with this type of prejudice: affirming that the photograph of a woman with her mouth slightly open is a form of “invite” is the equivalent of saying that a woman victim of assault who wore a skirt that was too short “looked for it”, basically. And it is precisely these kinds of sexist stereotypes that feminists like Mme Clermont-Dion are fighting day after day, and with even more strength and energy since the advent of the #metoo movement. The words of the lyricist illustrate how much work still remains to be done…
That a prominent man like this author of great Quebec hits, recognized and celebrated, feels sufficiently uninhibited to make such comments in the public space shows to what extent women are right to denounce online violence against them.
They are the first victims. Men also receive insults online, but these insults are not linked to their sex or gender. Women are called “whores” and “sluts” and are often threatened with attacks on their physical integrity. And comments such as those made by Stéphane Venne are in some way an “invitation”, to use his words, to continue.
On Wednesday, National Day of Non-Violence, the mayor of Longueuil, Catherine Fournier, made a media outing on this subject, recalling how constant and violent this surge of hatred is. A few weeks ago, it was the mayor of Montreal, Valérie Plante, who denounced online hatred by announcing that she was closing comments following her publications on the X network.
The lyricist finally withdrew his comments and apologized to Mme Clermont-Dion.
End of story?
No way.
This week, Laurie Dupont, content manager for magazines Elle Quebec And Veroposted a photo of herself online accompanied by the hashtag “#open mouth and tilted head”, a hashtag which sparked a real wave of solidarity towards Léa Clermont-Dion. Dozens of women, including personalities like Kim Lévesque-Lizotte and Valérie Plante (ironically, Stéphane Venne’s boss), have also published their “open mouth and tilted head” photo on social networks.
This hashtag shows that despite the violence of the attacks, despite the intimidation and repeated verbal attacks, despite the fatigue felt by women who constantly have to deal with this type of attack, feminists still find the strength to respond a humorous and non-violent way of sexist and denigrating remarks.
To borrow a familiar tune: “No, it’s not over, it’s just the beginning…”
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