Since 2006, the MeToo Movement has given survivors of sexual violence a voice to share their stories and fight for changes within the system. In the wake of a handful of former child stars coming forward to share their stories of sexual misconduct and other traumatizing events they endured on set while filming some of our beloved childhood shows, this only serves as a reminder of why the MeToo movement is here to stay.
The MeToo Movement’s Beginning
The MeToo Movement was founded in 2006 by activist and sexual assault survivor Tarana Burke. After an interaction with a young Black girl who shared her story of sexual violence and abuse, Burke found herself ill-equipped to help the young girl. The event served as a catalyst for Burke who found herself meeting dozens more with similar stories, and being a survivor herself, she decided to take action. Burke then went on to create the MeToo movement as a method to provide aid to survivors.
The birth of the MeToo movement came from Burke’s desire to spread awareness and provide resources, safe spaces, and support to marginalized people, especially Black girls and women, who are impacted disproportionately by sexual violence and other systemic issues.
The Start of The Reckoning
In October 2017, Harvey Weinstein, a then-prominent Hollywood mogul, began to watch his empire crumble as a handful of women came forward with stories on how the former film producer subjected them to sexual misconduct stemming back to the 1970s.
Actresses, models, journalists, behind-the-scenes crew members and assistants stepped out of the shadows to share their unpleasant experiences with Weinstein. Being sexually assaulted, harassed, forced to give him massages, watching him naked and being threatened is what survivors claimed to have endured at his hands.
As more and more came forward to share their stories, this eventually led to a phenomenon now dubbed the “Weinstein effect”. The effect occurs when the pressure to remain silent merely to protect all-powerful figures is broken.
How The MeToo Movement Became Viral
As many survivors continued to share their experiences, it led actress Alyssa Milano to post the following tweet:
” If you’ve been sexually harassed or assaulted, write ‘me too’ as a reply to this tweet.”
The replies were overwhelming, with both men and women retweeting and replying to Milano’s tweet, sharing what they’ve endured. But it wasn’t just celebrities sharing their story. Most were regular people who worked in health, education, hospitality and countless other fields. For some, it was their first time sharing their story.
It would be through this hashtag that such a large number of people began to challenge the silence surrounding sexual assault.
How The MeToo Movement Created Change
While the MeToo movement led once-prominent figures to lose their power and serve time in prison for their crimes, it also allowed for a reassessment of workplace policies and how sexual abuse is handled in media.
Within the entertainment industry, protocols came into place to create a healthier work environment behind the scenes and make changes to content that previously displayed sexual misconduct.
Sharing their stories has also given survivors a platform to be the change for a better workspace. As a result, we’ve seen more diversity, such as more women taking on leadership roles across many industries.
Furthermore, it has led to government officials stepping in to change existing policies and legislation to be in favour of protecting survivors.
What The MeToo Movement Has Taught Us
It’s been over six years now since the MeToo movement became widespread and there are no signs of it slowing down when it comes to taking a stand against sexual misconduct.
Overall, the MeToo movement represents survivors taking a stand and taking back their power, all the while reminding predators that there are consequences for the damage they’ve caused.