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Remember the knitted pink hats that women wore to the Women’s March in Washington, D.C. in 2017? The March was a call for social change, supporting civil rights, pay equality, affordable healthcare, and other issues. The pink hats represented a visible symbol of solidarity for women’s rights.
The year 2017 was also the year that the hashtag “#MeToo” went viral and the “Me Too Movement” became a global movement. Millions of women came together in solidarity as they realized that they, too, were survivors of sexual assault and they were not alone.
Tarana Burkę is credited as the founder of the “MeToo” movement. But she is also a sexual abuse survivor, having been molested by her mother’s boyfriend as a young child. Later, she became an activist for many initiatives, like housing inequality, especially for Black women. She worked with youth but was unable to discuss her own horrific story of abuse. When trying to counsel a young abuse victim, Tarana realized she could not continue and had to summon another counselor. But as she watched the little girl walk away, under her breath, she whispered “Me, too.”
Tarana’s “Me, too” (although not heard by anyone) was an acknowledgment that she, too, had been sexually abused.
The origins, goals, and impact of the MeToo movement will be discussed in greater detail in this article.
The Origins of the Me Too Movement
Tarana Burkę, an activist and community organizer, founded the “MeToo” movement in 2006. Before that, she founded a nonprofit youth organization “Just Be, Inc.,” to help young Black survivors of sexual assault plus remind them they were not alone. Then came the #MeToo movement which supports survivors of sexual abuse and pathways to healing, particularly for Black women and women of color. She created a safe place for survivors to gather and share their stories while teaching and promoting “empowerment through empathy.” She wanted to train survivors to work in communities of color.
It is important to address at this time the statistics regarding sexual abuse which are alarming. Non-consensual sex (attempted or completed) – also referred to as rape – is experienced by one in five women in the United States at some point in their lives; one in three female victims of completed or attempted non-consensual sex experienced it for the first time between the ages of 11 and 17; and young women are especially at risk. These are the women — Black women, especially — Tarana Burke was dedicated to help.
Earlier, in 1996, she had met a young girl at a youth camp who trustingly told Tarana her story of abuse. Tarana listened to the painful story but could not continue so she told her that another counselor could help her much better than she could. The girl was confused, hurt, and dejectedly walked away, but Tarana could not stop thinking of her. The reason? She understood, she connected with her, and she could feel her pain, but she couldn’t bring herself to whisper, “me too.”
Tarana got to work building a community of advocates determined to stop sexual abuse wherever it happens. In the non-profit sector, she focused on youth development and supporting women who had been sexually abused, especially Black women. She organized and served in many organizations, beginning as a young person. She created community programs designed for underserved youth. What began as a grassroots community effort has evolved into sustained work, culminating in the current operation as a Black women-led organization working alongside a global community of advocates to eradicate sexual violence.
For far too long, power has been in the hands of perpetrators of abuse. It’s time to raise our voices, say “no more” and end this culture of sexual violence.
The Me Too Movement Goes Viral
In 2017 The New York Times (on October 5th) and The New Yorker (on October 10th) revealed accusations that Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein mistreated women. “Mistreated” as in sexual abuse and sexual harassment. Everybody was talking about it. Shortly after the articles, actress Alyssa Milano tweeted, “If you’ve been sexually harassed or assaulted write ‘me too’ as a reply to this tweet.”
The hashtag #metoo gained worldwide traction and “went viral” when millions of posts, tweets, and retweets on social media came in from survivors. That so many women responded that they had been sexually harassed or assaulted was overwhelming. Survivors were able to “find their voices” and speak up about the harm done to them. They were candid in telling those stories on social media. Social media amplified those voices by providing the platforms on which to speak up.
Goals of the Me Too Movement
When the Me Too Movement was founded in 2006 by Tarana Burke, the vision was to bring resources, support, and pathways to healing – where none existed before — to sexual harassment and sexual assault survivors. Importantly, the movement’s goals are to empower survivors, create solidarity, and drive systemic change against sexual harassment and sexual assault. In a nutshell, the Me Too Movement wants to have a world free of sexual violence!
In order to see systemic change, all survivors have a big role to play in preventing future assault. They must speak up and Not Remain Silent. The Me Too Movement was founded to empower survivors to do just that.
The MeToo Movement is all about empowering survivors. But what do survivors do after being abused or assaulted? Often, someone who experiences sexual harassment or sexual assault does not know where to turn when deciding whether to file a lawsuit or not against the wrongdoer. One of the main hinderances is just not understanding how a civil lawsuit works! A Case for Women (ACFW), a women-owned organization founded in 2015, compassionately listens to the survivor’s story before connecting her with an equally passionate law firm that has the resources and expertise to file a lawsuit that will create lasting and powerful change for them and those that will follow. A Case for Women’s mission is empowering women to speak up and use the authority of civil lawsuits.
At this point, it might be helpful to know that sexual assault can involve anything from workplace verbal harassment to full-on assault. The bottom line is ANY UNWANTED SEXUAL ADVANCE = ASSAULT.
The word “NO” should alert someone to stop what they are doing during a sexual encounter. Their partner does not want to continue; there should be no “implied consent,” which is somewhat old-fashioned. The Me Too Movement promotes an understanding of consent and of changing the culture to support consent and respect.
Because of the influence of the Me Too Movement, laws have been changed and enacted regarding workplace harassment, sexual harassment training, and banning NDAs. In California the STAND (Stand Together Against Non-Disclosure) Act banned the use of nondisclosure clauses within sexual misconduct settlements.
The Impact of the Me Too Movement
Policy changes and workplace reforms because of sexual harassment in the workplace are outcomes that have come as a result of the Me Too Movement.
The Me Too Movement has brought about increased awareness of sexual violence, and today focuses on helping other survivors — young people, homosexuals, trans, disabled — creating a dialogue among survivors that did not exist before.
Most of us never realized that women were being subjected to sexual harassment and sexual assault. It has been brought to the forefront by the efforts of the Me Too Movement, notably laws regarding the workplace. Also, because women have been empowered to stand up and not stay silent about the harm done to them, thanks to the Me Too Movement, the offending parties are held accountable through civil lawsuits.
Criticisms and Challenges of the Me Too Movement
It is important to acknowledge that there are criticisms of the Me Too Movement, namely, concerns about due process, inclusivity, and backlash. Some worry that people will not be presumed innocent of a sexual crime; that discrimination regarding sex and race will cause employers to hire someone that is not as qualified but is a woman who is marginalized; and that men are nervous about being alone with a woman in the workplace, or anywhere, for that matter. But the MeToo Movement continues to evolve and face challenges as time has passed. It’s not easy to change the world.
Why the Me Too Movement Still Matters Today
The reality of today is that women are still being sexually abused and Black women and others are still being discriminated against in the workplace, healthcare, and the justice system. Inequalities exist but, thanks to the Me Too Movement for getting these issues to the forefront, people are having conversations and are more informed about sexual abuse, workplace harassment, gender equity, and accountability.
Speaking of accountability, many powerful men who worked in sports, medicine, entertainment, and other high-powered positions, were exposed for their sexual “misdeeds.” The New York Times reported in late October 2018 that “#MeToo Brought Down 201 Powerful Men. Nearly Half of Their Replacements Are Women.” The MeToo Movement is not going anywhere.
Why does the Me Too Movement still matter today? Just read the above-referenced New York Times article. Also, A Case for Women is doing everything in its power to drive #MeToo forward in an era of uncertainty plus help keep it alive, kicking, relevant. Despite media criticism and ingrained cultural pushback, many women, together with A Case for Women, believe, like Tarana Burke, that accountability doesn’t end with hashtags.
Resources for Survivors of Sexual Harassment and Assault
The following resources provide support for survivors of sexual violence:
Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network (RAINN)
RAINN’S National Sexual Assault Hotline
Call 800-656-HOPE
Online Chat: https://www.rainn.org
Text HOPE at 66743
National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC)
Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI)
U.S Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
Coming forward with a serious allegation like sexual abuse can take a toll on a person’s emotional health. RAINN says that “sexual violence can have psychological, emotional, and physical effects on a survivor.”
A survivor should prepare herself mentally by talking about what happened (with a trusted friend or family member) and seeking help with a therapist or counselor. Also, it is important to understand the legal process which may seem intimidating.
Civil legal action is the only way to hold the corporations and institutions that were complicit in abuse and assault accountable. This is because civil lawsuits don’t just put one person in jail – they change the system by hitting the corporation where it hurts: its wallets.
The organization, A Case for Women (ACFW) is a refuge for change and is a supportive resource for survivors exploring legal options. ACFW creates a safe space for survivors of sexual abuse to come and share their story and be educated about filing lawsuits. They are then empowered and realize that one person can create change that touches others. Lives are changed, laws are changed or created, harmful products are removed from shelves, and women become stronger in their womanhood.
However, if a survivor is struggling and needs emotional support, ACFW provides the resources to help by citing credible third party sources, such as RAINN and NSVRC. A Case for Women is a supportive ally to survivors while at the same time building trust, empowering women, and making our world a safer place.
In conclusion, the MeToo Movement has made a powerful impact worldwide and represents both solidarity and action. All survivors are encouraged to speak up and seek support. But everyone needs to join the conversation and to help end sexual violence!
