People, even celebrities, across the nation are hashtagging their social media posts with #MeToo to share stories of sexual harassment and assault.
The social media campaign caught fire when film producer Harvey Weinstein was accused of sexual misconduct by many Hollywood actresses, including high-profile names like Angelina Jolie and Gwyneth Paltrow. More than 50 women have made allegations against Weinstein. These women claimed they had been assaulted or harassed by Weinstein when they were trying to establish themselves early in their careers.
But the movement didn’t start with the Weinstein case. It began over 10 years ago by activist Tarana Burke. Burke started this movement to help young women from low-income communities who had been sexually assaulted or harassed find strength and solace in community.
Tarana Burke, founder of Just Be Inc. Photo from the organization’s website.
According to a USA Today article, Burke’s organization, known as Just Be Inc, is “a youth organization focused on the health, well being and wholeness of young women of color.” She was led to begin the nonprofit group after an encounter with a young girl, who admitted she was being sexually abused by her mother’s boyfriend. The organization aims to create a community of women who support each other through this type of trauma.
But some people question why it took 10 years for well-known white feminists to say #MeToo. Millions of posts featured the hashtag after Alyssa Milano encouraged people to share their stories, but where was the support for Burke’s organization?
“White women have not been as supportive as they could have been of women of color when they experience targeted abuse and harassment,” April Reign said in an interview with the New York Times this week. She cited examples like Leslie Jones and Jemele Hill, a comedian and a sports journalist, respectively. Jones was attacked on Twitter after being cast in the Ghostbusters remake, and Hill was suspended from her position at ESPN after “speaking out against the N.F.L.” Both are women of color, and neither received the outpouring of support that Weinstein’s mostly white victims have.
Even for its flaws, the movement and subsequent hashtag have allowed people to come together to share their stories. It’s a way for women to stand up and let their voices be heard, if they choose to do so. Personally, I think it’s amazing to see so many women and men sharing their story. I believe it brings more awareness to this widespread issue. But, as Burke said to USA Today, “We still have a lot of work to do.”
#MeToo, I’ve been a victim of sexual assault. Photo from Megan Holzwarth.