Tens of thousands of women are recounting being sexually harassed or assaulted by flooding social media with the hashtag #metoo in the wake of claims against movie producer Harvey Weinstein.
Their stories of being verbally abused, groped, molested and raped by bosses, teachers and family come after American actress Alyssa Milano called on Twitter users on Sunday to post “Me too” to share their experiences of being harassed or worse. Milano’s original tweet received over 37,000 comments, and the hashtag was one of the top trends on Twitter in Britain and the United States. On Facebook, around 7 million people were discussing “Me Too” on October 16.
Women - and men - quickly responded on Twitter and Facebook. Many wrote that they had never known a woman who had not been sexually harassed or assaulted.
“Lived a life in a world where it was expected, grew thinking I deserved it,” wrote another. “Couldn’t begin to count the # times or men-far too many.”
Many on Twitter and Facebook simply wrote “Me Too,” including actresses Anna Paquin, Patricia Arquette, Debra Messing and Anika Noni Rose and singer Lady Gaga.
“Me too. I don’t know if means anything coming from a gay man but it’s happened. Multiple times,” tweeted Broadway actor Javier Munoz.
Weinstein’s accusers include actress Gwyneth Paltrow, who told The New York Times that she was sexually harassed by Weinstein more than 20 years ago, and actress and director Angelina Jolie, who told the Times she “had a bad experience with Harvey Weinstein in my youth and as a result chose never to work with him again.”
The 65-year-old movie producer has denied having non-consensual sex with anyone.
On social media, some questioned the utility of the “Me Too” campaign, pointing out earlier efforts such as a #YesAllWomen crusade against sexual violence and harassment.
“I‘m tired of thinking these things actually make a difference,” wrote one Facebook user. “Laws are what makes a difference.”
Many women wrote of getting fired or being forced to quit after shunning advances by bosses.
“Many jobs. From high school to grad school. Whether I was an intern or director. It’s everywhere. It’s disgusting,” one Twitter user wrote.
Will Goodman, a journalist in New York wrote on his Facebook status, “I‘m at a loss for words and literally crying as I see ‘Me, too’ stream on my NewsFeed.”
“I have always known that it is more widespread than acknowledged and to have these stark visual moments on social media is horrifying and heartbreaking,” Goodman told the Thomson Reuters Foundation by phone.
In France, where prevalent sexism has regularly triggered calls to end a code of silence, journalist Sandra Muller, sparked a similar outpouring of sharing under the hashtags #balancetonporc and the phrase’s English equivalent, #squealonyourpig.
Radio journalist Anais Dent was one of those sharing her story, writing: “First journalism internship in Paris, I was 18. The editor in chief kisses me against my will. He’d just had a baby. #balancetonporc.”
Among the prominent Indians who tweeted with the #MeToo tag include comedian Mallika Dua, who was sexually abused as a child, Vir Das and Aditi Mittal; journalist Barkha Dutt, author Meghana Pant, playback singer Chinmayi Sripaada and actor Shenaz Treasury.
“Every educated man needs to use the #MeToo movement to learn. Above all, To spread knowledge. To be inclusive and to be aware. I vow to try,” wrote Vir Das.
A Mumbai-based journalist and film reviewer Pankaj Sabnani wrote, “I’m honestly not surprised that all girls/women are tweeting about #MeToo. We men are a disgrace.”
Men and women coming out in large numbers to support the campaign just goes on to show how widespread and universl the problem is. And that the problem of sexual abuse isn't limited to any class, caste, sex or religion. Nor is it men vs women. It is simply sexual predator versus victim of sexual abuse. And unless victims dont find the courage to share their experiences wihout feeling ashamed, judged or blamed for being abused, more such incidents will continue to take place, more of them will be unreported and more of the sexual predators will roam free in the society.
— With inputs from Reuters
