Breaking the Silence: How #MeToo Changed the Conversation

Introduction

At my core, I firmly believe that all women and people, for that matter, deserve to live, work, play, and exist in a world where they are not afraid or subjected to harassment. I greatly value safety, nonviolence, respect, and compassion. Statistics from the organization Stop Street Harassment show that 81% of women in the United States have experienced some form of sexual harassment or assault in their lifetime. (SHH, 2018) This means that if we look at our friends, families, and colleagues, we all know many women who have faced harassment, abuse, or worse. We all have a responsibility to stand up and advocate for change, and that is exactly what Tarana Burke began with the #MeToo movement—a platform for individuals to speak out for themselves and in solidarity with other women. This movement demonstrates how powerful digital platforms and social media can be when used to amplify victims’ voices and promote societal and cultural change. 

Background

Tarana Burke has been an advocate for racial and social justice, anti-violence, and gender equality since the late 1980's. As a young black girl in New York City, she had experienced abuse and violence, which prompted her to take action and help others in similar situations.  She joined the 21st Century Youth Leadership Movement, where she addressed issues of social injustice. While attending Alabama State University in 2004, Tarana met many young girls who had been abused or assaulted and were living without safe spaces, resources, or support. It was then that she founded Just Be, Inc., an organization working toward justice for Black and brown girls, and the #MeToo movement soon emerged. Following multiple reports of sexual abuse allegations against film producer Harvey Weinstein, the MeToo movement was started.  It became a viral movement when Alyssa Milano tweeted about it in 2017.   In her tweet, Milano encouraged people who had experienced sexual harassment or assault to reply with the words “me too,” highlighting the scale of the problem. The hashtag was used over half a million times on Twitter in the first 24 hours—more than 19 million times within a year. (Participedia, n.d.). This brought unprecedented attention to the culture that enables this activity. 

Success of the Movement-Social Change motivated by #MeToo

The campaign's immediate impact was a large number of responses, giving victims a chance to share their experiences and to find solidarity with others who had faced similar situations.  The reporting by major news organizations led to investigations and a stream of headlines about prominent individuals accused.  Some of these accusations led to the convictions of high-profile figures in politics and Hollywood, forcing us to make a bit of a cultural shift.  There was a new focus on believing reporters/survivors, as well as changes in many sectors of our country.  Organizations were forced to examine their policies, procedures, and even attitudes about the mistreatment of women and laws were passed on state and federal levels to support victims.

Criticisms of #MeToo

Although the movement was rooted in advocating for Black and brown women, it has faced some criticisms for becoming more about white women and their communities. Many Black women felt that their stories were not given the same validity or visibility. One reason for this could be that Black women face additional concerns that were not addressed by #MeToo, such as the pressure not to report incidents involving Black men. They worried this might reinforce racism and contribute to existing negative stereotypes. Another criticism is that the movement did not fully address intersectionality. The documentary about the music industry and the injustices against producer Drew Dixon, “On the Record,” suggests that gender, race, power, and specific industry cultures all need to be considered for their impact on women of color.  Others criticized the movement for not being inclusive of men or those of the LGBTTTQQIAA+ community who are often victims as well. 

Conclusion

While the #MeToo Movement has advanced the fight against the mistreatment of women and made significant progress, there is still much work to be done. It saddens me that my twenty-four-year-old daughter and her friends must be so cautious and vigilant. Wherever they go, they check underneath their cars before getting in, always keep an eye on their drinks or food when out with friends, and use tracking apps to stay aware of each other’s locations. On the other hand, I have worked with college women students who have had negative experiences and have been brave enough to report them to our Title IX office. I am not sure that, when I was in college, I would have had the courage or support to do the same. 

Dick, K., & Ziering, A. (Directors). (2020). On the Record [Film]. HBO Max.

Stop Street Harassment (SSH). A National Study on Sexual Harassment and Assault. 2018.

Participedia. (n.d.). Observations and analysis of the #MeToo social movement and debate on Twitter. Participedia. https://participedia.net/case/observations-and-analysis-of-the-metoo-social-movement-and-debate-on-twitter#