#MeToo: Women share harrowing accounts of sexual assault, harassment
A powerful two-word social media campaign is revealing the scope of sexual harassment as thousands of people — mostly women — took to Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to share their personal accounts over the weekend.
The social campaign began with a tweet from actress Alyssa Milano, calling all who have experienced sexual harassment to respond with "Me too." But the phrase is actually credited to Tarana Burke, a New York-based sexual assault, abuse and exploitation activist, who first coined it in 1996.
If you’ve been sexually harassed or assaulted write ‘me too’ as a reply to this tweet. pic.twitter.com/k2oeCiUf9n
— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) October 15, 2017
» RELATED: Before Alyssa Milano, #MeToo began with activist Tarana Burke 10 years ago
As of Monday morning, more than 40,000 people replied to Milano’s tweet. Hundreds of thousands more joined in with the hashtag #MeToo.
Celebrities Evan Rachel Wood and Lady Gaga participated as well.
Because I was shamed and considered a "party girl" I felt I deserved it. I shouldnt have been there, I shouldn't have been "bad" #metoo
— #EvanRachelWould (@evanrachelwood) October 16, 2017
— xoxo, Gaga (@ladygaga) October 15, 2017
Soon, the campaign traveled from Twitter to other social platforms, including Facebook.
Many told stories of harassment during childhood, their teen years, adulthood and several more shared multiple accounts.
Perpetrators were often trusted clergy, family members, strangers, coworkers, authority figures or friends.
Me too... Age 14 through 54...coach, student, banker, stranger, security guard, professor,
— Gwynda Shields (@Georgecolevet) October 16, 2017
men i knew, men i didn’t know, men I worked with, men i didn’t work with, a man in my own family, men i trusted #metoo
— Best Coast (@BestCoast) October 16, 2017
Some victims of sexual harassment said the social media campaign gave them the courage to speak up.
The thing about #MeToo is that it has forced me to confront some situations I have been in, which I've dismissed as just part of life.
— Vonnie Sandlan (@VonnSand) October 16, 2017
I have never told my story out of fear of being ripped apart again, but #MeToo https://t.co/V86hlC2Cxb
— Hugh Man Bean (@___wait4it___) October 16, 2017
This is my first tweet in years #MeToo
— Michèle DesLauriers (@Michele__DL) October 16, 2017
Others spoke up for those who chose not to publicly participate.
Reminder that if a woman didn't post #MeToo, it doesn't mean she wasn't sexually assaulted or harassed. Survivors don't owe you their story.
— Alexis Benveniste (@apbenven) October 16, 2017
For those whispering #metoo instead of posting: you are loved, believed and cared for. You are brave. Your safety is most important.
— Cait Erin (@CaitLosson) October 16, 2017
You don't have to share your #MeToo story, in graphic detail or at all, or even have a story, to stand in solidarity. Support is important.
— C.E. Kinsella (@ceKinsella) October 16, 2017
The magnitude of the campaign and its reach didn’t surprise everyone, but many people, including several men, wrote they had trouble reading all of the stories.
It's really hard to read through #MeToo tweets but that's exactly why men should take the time to do so.
— Nathaniel Friedman (@freedarko) October 16, 2017
I am not even brave enough to read some of the stories women are sharing #MeToo. I will fight harder to create safer spaces #SoDoneChilling
— Swapnil 🐢 (@thecipherstory) October 16, 2017
The fact I see so many #MeToo tweets is empowering and heartbreaking. People are speaking out but to see how many of us it happened to....
— Cissy |65 ♡ 🏳️🌈 (@MadameCissy1) October 16, 2017
Thankful as hell I get to work with brave women who’ve shared their horror stories & inspired me to be a better man. #MeToo #FullFrontal
— Miles Kahn (@mileskahn) October 16, 2017
I can't write #MeToo . It hasn't happened to me. But as a man trying to be a good human, I have to strive to be better at this life. /1
— haLOween (@RealLarryD) October 16, 2017
I never doubted the magnitude of sexual assault, but it's beyond heartbreaking to read all the #MeToo stories.
— Curt Bennett (@CurtBennett) October 16, 2017
Still, others felt the campaign was flawed, that it triggered painful feelings for victims and put the pressure on them to “do the work.”
1) puts onus on those harmed to do the work. As usual. by disclosing something they may not want to disclose
— wikipedia brown (@eveewing) October 16, 2017
2) "magnitude of the problem" has been clear for a MINUTE
3) seems to appeal to the whole "I have a daughter" logic. Like, you didn't believe the 20k women before me? https://t.co/KYlQvlTmam
Why do we have to say #MeToo? Why aren't abusers stepping forward to acknowledge their predatory ways?
— D. Danyelle Thomas (@UnfitChristian) October 16, 2017
love to survivors who feel like they can't engage with the #MeToo campaign, who struggle to navigate conversations about gendered experiences, who are being told that all we need is more "awareness"
— rob noon (@noonbinary) October 16, 2017
As the hashtag flooded social media, others wondered: “Now what?”
an obvious thing: #metoo.
— Caroline Framke (@carolineframke) October 16, 2017
a far less obvious but very crucial thing: now what?
I sincerely hope #metoo turns into “I believe you.” “Me too.”
— Aparna Nancherla (@aparnapkin) October 16, 2017
Brave women shouldn’t have to put dark moments of their lives on display so that we realize what a big problem sexual assault and harassment are. We should already know: for every #MeToo story, there was a man who knew that story. Men must own up and do better
— Fred. (@freeloosedirt) October 16, 2017
#metoo... standing up to be counted. We need to change our mores around power and the male gender roles. Change happens now!
— Daniel Alroy (@DanAlroy) October 16, 2017
A resounding answer on Twitter: Start teaching consent, kindness and respect.
Women AND men are victims of sexual harassment and abuse. Teach your children to speak up. Teach them how to respect others. #meToo
— Gina 🍓 (@MissGinaDarling) October 16, 2017
Teachers, know that at least 1 in 6 of your students have probably been sexually assalted. This # is higher if you teach special Ed #MeToo
— Sarah Chambers (@Sarah4Justice) October 16, 2017
Fathers, teach your sons. So new generations of women don’t have to say #MeToo
— Liam O'Brien (@VoiceOfOBrien) October 16, 2017
Follow the hashtag #MeToo on Twitter, on Facebook and on Instagram.
Milano's initial tweet followed the New York Times' Oct. 5 investigation into decades of sexual harassment allegations against Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein.
In a statement last week, Twitter chief executive Jack Dorsey also tweeted about the company's efforts to tackle abuse after it faced criticism for suspending actress Rose McGowan's account.
Twitter is proud to empower and support the voices on our platform, especially those that speak truth to power. We stand with the brave women and men who use Twitter to share their stories, and will work hard every day to improve our processes to protect those voices. 3/3
— Twitter Safety (@TwitterSafety) October 12, 2017
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