#MeToo is a social movement and awareness campaign against sexual abuse, sexual harassment, and rape culture, in which survivors (led by the voices of women, especially public figures) share their experiences of sexual abuse or sexual harassment. The phrase "Me Too" was initially used in this context on social media around 2006, on Myspace, by sexual assault survivor and activist Tarana Burke. The hashtag #MeToo was used starting in 2017 as a way to draw attention to the magnitude of the problem. "Me Too" is meant to empower those who have been sexually assaulted through empathy, solidarity and strength in numbers, by visibly demonstrating how many have experienced sexual assault and harassment, especially in the workplace. Following multiple exposures of sexual-abuse allegations against film producer Harvey Weinstein in October 2017, the movement began to spread virally as a hashtag on social media. On October 15, 2017, American actress Alyssa Milano posted on Twitter encouraging women to use the phrase "Me Too" in their social media posts to demonstrate the widespread prevalence of sexual harassment and assault, stating that the idea came from a friend. A number of high-profile posts and responses from American celebrities Gwyneth Paltrow, Ashley Judd, Jennifer Lawrence, and Uma Thurman, among others, soon followed. Widespread media coverage and discussion of sexual harassment, particularly in Hollywood, led to high-profile terminations from positions held, as well as criticism and backlash. After millions of people started using the phrase and hashtag in this manner in English, the expression began to spread to dozens of other languages. The scope has become somewhat broader with this expansion, however, and Burke has more recently referred to it as an international movement for justice for marginalized people. After the hashtag #MeToo went viral in late 2017, Facebook reported that almost half of its American users were friends with someone who said they had been sexually assaulted or harassed. The #MeToo movement has sparked debate over how to support survivors while ensuring due process for the accused. Although some worry about false accusations and premature consequences, studies by the United States Department of Justice and UK Home Office estimate that false reports make up only 2–10% of sexual assault claims. Commentators like Jude Doyle and Jennifer Wright argue that #BelieveWomen is not a call to abandon due process but a response to the rarity of false allegations. Critics also highlight gaps in the movement’s reach, including its failure to address police abuse, include sex workers, or center marginalized women, who face the highest rates of violence.
Purpose
The purpose of the original "Me Too" as used by Tarana Burke in 2006 was to empower women through empathy, especially focused on young and vulnerable women. In October 2017, Alyssa Milano encouraged using the phrase as a hashtag to help reveal the extent of problems with sexual harassment and assault by showing how many people have experienced these events themselves. It therefore encourages women to speak up about their abuses, knowing that they are not alone. After millions of people started using the phrase, and it spread to dozens of other languages, the purpose changed and expanded, and as a result, it has come to mean different things to different people. Tarana Burke has stated that this movement has grown to include both men and women of all colors and ages, as it continues to support marginalized people in marginalized communities. There have also been movements by men aimed at changing the culture through personal reflection and future action, including #IDidThat, #IHave and #IWill.
Awareness and empathy Analyses of the movement have highlighted the widespread prevalence of sexual violence. The World Health Organization estimates that approximately one-third of women worldwide experience such violence. A 2017 poll conducted by ABC News and The Washington Post found that 54% of American women reported receiving unwanted or inappropriate sexual advances, with 95% stating that this behavior often goes unpunished. Commentators have also argued that #MeToo emphasizes the need for bystander intervention, particularly among men. Tarana Burke, the founder of the movement, has stated that #MeToo seeks to affirm that survivors of sexual violence are not alone and should not feel shame. She has emphasized the importance of early education about consent, including the right to refuse unwanted sexual contact regardless of the perpetrator’s relationship to the individual. Burke has also encouraged men to engage in discussions about consent, challenge inappropriate behavior, and listen to survivors’ experiences. Actor Alyssa Milano has described #MeToo as increasing public awareness of the scale of sexual violence and fostering solidarity among survivors. She has also stated that addressing the issue requires men to actively oppose behavior that objectifies women.
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