The #MeToo Hashtag Movement
The Twitter hashtag #MeToo has offered an open channel for subscribers to share their individual experiences and make known the occurrence of the violence, assault and harassment against women. This online spectacle, which has majorly entailed posting on Twitter and retweeting to share other user’s posts, has revealed important information regarding the scope and state of sexual misconduct and harassment. Notably, the social media has acted as, a key platform for this extraordinary international discussion, where early censored voices have been amplified, supporters across the globe have been united, and resistance has gained momentum. The essay explores the #MeToo movement into the broader scope of social media activism, describing how this particular form of collective measure is quickly developing.
Why the movement
The issue is prevalent in a contemporary countrywide study; 81 % of women recorded experiencing some sexual assault in their life (Bhattacharyya 28). More than one in five have endured sexual harassment. The simple hashtag #MeToo has added stories, faces, and names to the figures in what is possibly the most influential activism in the women’s movement in modern history. The total number of women facing assault and harassment make this problem ready for social movements and shared action. This conduct surpasses workplace misbehaviour, data demonstrating that harassment is pervasive and complex to avoid.
Irrespective of the universality of the issue, sexual harassment and assault usually go unreported. Sexual violence is the most unreported assault in the United States, with 70 per cent of misconducts never reported to the relevant authority. Even after the development of #MeToo, among study respondents who recorded they had faced workplace harassment in the previous year, 76 percent did not formally report it (PettyJohn 612). Most victims do not report to the relevant authority because they fear revenge, or believe that reporting will result in little or no effect for the culprit. These problems may be intensified when the culprit occupies a dominant position
Origins of the #MeToo Hashtag
Tarana Burke is the founder of the #MeToo movement, which started in 2006, a movement against sexual harassment and assault; she supported survivors of sexual abuse. This movement has grown throughout the years not only in social media but all around the world; many other women participate by tweeting #MeToo as a way of showing solidarity to the victims. In addition to this, this movement has helped united the society worldwide to share kind words to who have experienced sexual harassment and assault in their life’s, such as jokes referring to sexual acts, conditions of employment and sexual favour in exchange for some benefit (Xiong 10-23). Apart from this, Burke has also helped victims reduce traumas from any dreadful memories.
Moreover, it has impacted both genders men and women, as well as all ages and races. It is a global issue. Without a doubt, this movement has allowed women to have a voice to be able to share their stories about sexual harassment or assault with other victims and support one another. It all began with a hashtag, then allegations against rich and powerful people to gain profit from the situation. For example, the Harvey Weinstein scandal, many claims he used to force women into unwanted physical contact. For instance, most women in Hollywood often would agree to withhold information to avoid running their reputation as a celebrity. On the other hand, women who were willing to report their situation were not capable of because of agreements that silenced them with money, but now women who once silenced by fear are exposing their stories.
In the first year, the #MeToo hashtag was used 19 times a million more on Twitter. Tweets in more than 46 distinct languages have exploited the hashtag, and most new hashtags associated with harassment and violence continue to develop in these distinct languages (Kearl,23-27). The scope of the social media reaction makes it apparent that these are not just uncommon cases of negative behaviour but a prevalent part of women’s experiences in the globe. The reaction as well offers a hint into the routine attacks and discrediting experienced by victims of sexual assault. The constant social reception of victim accusing, and its association to more comprehensive, regular forms of disparity.
The #MeToo hashtag has facilitated the enhancement of consciousness and visibility of common societal concern while intensifying the voices of those who have been affected. Optimists have claimed that social media has been, basically, a powerful equalizer that widens access to political engagement. Even if Twitter is not a representative illustration of the U.S. populace, some have claimed that social media engagement has fewer differences based on gender, class and race compared to the activism of conventional social movements, because of the availability of the Internet. Besides, social media platforms, including Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook, among others, have become core components of domestic and international civil society. Moreover, it appears natural to be part of social media than it does in the geographic environment. Precisely, there are minimal hindrances to involvement, for instance, physical limitations, lack of free time, and cost. For instance, individuals may be ready and capable of reading individual tweets than travelling to attend a physical, political address. Most people get to take the podium, offering some element of empowerment that everyone has a say. Following this more extensive accessibility, understanding and knowledge is no longer dominated by the economic and political class and is conveyed faster to the society. This facilitated the quick deployment of groups and offered higher chances to participate in the public address. Therefore, social media represents a low-cost approach through which individuals can mobilize, network, and organize huge responses to grievances, actions, and social reform.
As critical as personal experiences are for accomplishing justice and empowerment at the individual level, the scope of the social media reaction reveals something essential regarding the ubiquity of, and tolerance for, violence and assault in the society. By supporting and empowering men and women to raise their voice and followers across the globe to act, the assessment demonstrates that #MeToo is transforming the society’s shared understanding of sexual violence and harassment, and minimizing the shared acceptance for it. Not only are individuals discussing matters online, but by exploiting a simple, collective phrase, they have labelled and merged the discourse and made the grievances more heard and visible.
Works Cited
Bhattacharyya, Rituparna. “# Metoo Movement: An Awareness Campaign.” International Journal of Innovation, Creativity and Change 3.4 (2018).
Kearl, Holly. “The facts behind the# MeToo movement: A national study on sexual harassment and assault.” (2018).
PettyJohn, Morgan E., et al. “# HowIWillChange: Engaging men and boys in the# MeToo movement.” Psychology of Men & Masculinities 20.4 (2019): 612.
Xiong, Ying, Moonhee Cho, and Brandon Boatwright. “Hashtag activism and message frames among social movement organizations: Semantic network analysis and thematic analysis of Twitter during the# MeToo movement.” Public relations review 45.1 (2019): 10-23.