#Metoo takes social media by storm, highlights magnitude of sexual abuse
It all started with a tweet from popular star Alyssa Milano.
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
The words “me too” have now become an awakening call and is trending on social media after women were asked to share if they had ever been sexually assaulted or harassed.
The entire movement started when actor Rose McGowan tweeted about her alleged sexual abuse at the hands of Hollywood movie mogul Harvey Weinstein. Twitter briefly suspended her account following the revelations. Women, and men alike, were soon seen calling for a 24-hour boycott of the microblogging site post the suspension.
Milano’s tweet came after a number of women stepped forward with sexual harassment and sexual assault allegations against film producer Harvey Weinstein, who was kicked out of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Saturday over the accusations.
Now, in the wake of the Harvey Weinstein allegations, the words #metoo are being used to show people just how widespread sexual harassment and assault are.
#metoo I was raped by my mother and a male family member, sexually assaulted as a model, sexually harassed by the director of my agency.
— Nikki DuBose (@TheNikkiDuBose) October 15, 2017
Me too. I don’t know if means anything coming from a gay man but it’s happened. Multiple times.
— Javier Muñoz (@JMunozActor) October 15, 2017
FIRST time I was sexually assaulted I was a 6th grade crossing guard. Man pulled up and exposed himself to me. The fear was real #MeToo
— Kim Weaver (@KimWeaverIA) October 15, 2017
#MeToo
— Najwa Zebian (@najwazebian) October 16, 2017
And I was blamed for it.
I was told not to talk about it.
I was told that it wasn't that bad.
I was told to get over it.
In the UK, Labour MP Stella Creasy also tweeted the words.
Me too.
— stellacreasy (@stellacreasy) October 15, 2017
Rwiti Roy, Research assistant at Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai was also vocal in her opinion on #metoo. She posted on Facebook:
And so was popular blogger Poorna Banerjee, who highlighted the fact that often, it is but members of the immediate family who are the perpetrators.
As she most evocatively puts forward in her post, "This is an appeal. If you are a man or a woman or anyone who has been sexually harassed, speak up. Add your two cents. Share your experience. Don't keep shut. Don't back down. If you're uncomfortable then it is NOT Ok. It is NEVER ok."
