The #MeToo Movement
How it affects all of us
The #MeToo movement has been all over social media since October 2017. What started with a response to the indictment of Harvey Weinstein spread like a wildfire on Twitter. Searching through the hashtag, you will encounter endless stories and recounts of sexual harassment and assault. Essentially, this pivotal movement advocates for those with first-hand experiences and brings light to those that are unaware.
How did it start? The movement itself is actually not at all new. Actress Alyssa Milano’s tweet brought it up around Twitter and Instagram but it was formerly brought to life by activist Tarana Burke in 2006 due to the non-profit ‘Just Be Inc.’, which was founded to help young women of color, especially regarding “the often overlooked historical connections of the role sexual violence plays in communities of color“ (Burke). For her activism, Burke was chosen as Person of the Year: The Silence Breakers by TIME in 2017, together with other women who spoke up against sexual assault. Although Alyssa Milano encouraged many individuals out there to share their own stories, we shouldn’t overlook Burke for everything she did to set the ball in motion.
How did it grow? The original movement was about supporting survivors of sexual assault through engaging in a therapeutic environment, and offering them to join camps or programs to help overcome trauma. Presently, on social media, it is much more about calling out perpetuators, with an emphasis on getting the message out first. Searching through the hashtag, you will see that has expanded into other serious issues. People post content such as insecurities, self-harm, and anxiety with the hashtag #MeToo. Nevertheless, the essence of this movement remains centered around reaching out to each other for comfort, trust and understanding when it comes to opening up about uncomfortable and painful situations concerning the opposite gender.
What did the movement achieve? By now, the hashtag has been shared by over 500,000 individuals and has caught the attention of large corporations and civilians alike. The #MeToo movement has led to reassessments in many corporations when it comes to workplace sexual harassment, and it has trickled into the US Congress. A significant number of prominent men were confronted with serious consequences due to cases of assault, such as forced resignations and judicial hearings. The movement appeared on television and in newspapers, gaining a new level of attention.
What can we do? Listen. Support. Share your story. By contributing to a community of individuals who have gone through similar experiences, a special bond of safety forms. When an issue affects such a large group of individuals, we must take it one step further than just spreading the message. We must act upon it. As Burke said, “A hashtag is a declaration but now we are poised to really stand up and do the work of it.“
