It may be disappointing, but it certainly wasn’t surprising: a debate on how men should respond to #MeToo has been raging ever since the hashtag started gaining traction and, in other forms, even before that. Should they stay silent, letting women talk about their experiences without sticking their oars in, or should they put themselves out there, declaring themselves as allies?

Admittedly, it can be a difficult line to walk. I’ve had dozens of conversations with men since #MeToo (and before) about how they should respond to harassment and assault – and many of them simply don’t feel as if they should take up space in a discussion that primarily revolves around women’s bad or traumatic experiences with men. These conversations are often held with men who really are keen to support the women in their lives – and, in some cases, to examine their own behaviour and question how they may have inadvertently contributed to a toxic environment for women.

Asking whether your voice actively detracts or distracts from women’s is good. But deciding to do the opposite, and staying silent, is a complete betrayal.

Having solidarity with women isn’t simply a case of apologising to them privately or asking them how you should change your behaviour – it also requires you to publicly express your support. Solidarity – to see someone as part of a community, as someone you’ll stand behind and beside, as someone you’ll support through trauma, discrimination, alienation or abuse – is one of the most basic and fundamental acts someone can do. It’s a promise to not turn a blind eye; a promise to believe women’s experiences; a pledge to let us talk and to actually listen. It’s seeing us as we are: not as sisters, girlfriends, mothers or friends but as human beings with dignity and autonomy.

"The huge problem with men's silence on sexual abuse at the Golden Globes"