The digital world has witnessed a large revolution in terms of creating awareness and offering agency to the repressed class. Such a revolution was caused by the hashtag #MeToo on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and other social media platforms. According to statistics, there is no statistical difference between the 47% of males in that age group who say they support the movement and the 53% of women who say they do. In comparison to the 36% of men in this age bracket, 48% of women between the ages of 50 and 64 say they support the #MeToo campaign. An initiative that began as a mechanism for victims of sexual harassment, sexual assault, and sexual bullying to connect and share their experiences has grown into a major social and legal movement. Additionally, the movement has given survivors a sense of support while simultaneously igniting a national and international dialogue about the pervasive problems associated with harassment and assault as well as the necessary reforms. The social movement has its history in activism. Â
Tarana Burke, a civil activist, started the movement and invented the phrase "MeToo" in 2006. However, it only became well-known in 2017 after actress Alyssa Milano pushed anyone who had experienced sexual harassment and assault to share their experiences online. Millions of people did so, and in the years that followed, hundreds of influential men lost their positions due to accusations that they had harassed or assaulted other workers.
It's intriguing to think about the current expansion of the sexual violence conversation in public. Sexual violence, which includes harassment, abuse, and assault, is widespread and has long-term effects on behavior and mental health. One in three women in the US has had unwanted sex at some point. Even though hashtag campaigns like #BeenRapedNeverReported gained popularity and prompted the open sharing of rape stories, these first movements were not very large. On October 15, 2017, actress Alyssa Milano urged her followers to post "MeToo" if they had ever engaged in unwanted or inappropriate sexual contact. This appeal caused a significant shift in the public conversation around sexual violence.
Many people are now eager to talk about the problems and receptive to doing so. With the #MeToo movement, many changes have been made, including the affirmation that survivors are not alone, creating a more robust community where survivors can speak out, showing how pervasive the problem is, altering social norms and perspectives on the subject, discovering thought structures that support abuse, greater sympathy for survivors, updated and passed legislation, provided survivors with channels for speaking out and sharing their stories, Break the taboo surrounding sexual assault, harassment, and bullying lowered the issue's stigma and made it acceptable for discussion, etc. Many influential persons were punished through legal action and bad public perception, and the government emphasized the necessity of formal anti-harassment laws.Â
Without a doubt, the #Me Too Movement is significant. The perspectives on sexual harassment are evolving. The #MeToo Movement draws attention to whether or not people reveal their own experiences of sexual harassment or assault. The #MeToo Movement also offers a forum where victims can discuss their own experiences in a more secure environment. The movement enables victims to feel supported, offers them legal assistance, and empowers them to speak out. The #MeToo Movement's influence frequently causes individuals to elevate sexual wrongdoing.
In 2006, the #MeToo Movement was established. A social activist named Tarana Burke initially started a "MeToo MySpace page to help and uplift black women and girls of color who had endured sexual assault in underprivileged communities (Biography.com Editors, 2018). The phrase "MeToo" became the catchphrase against sexual harassment in Hollywood ten years later, in 2017. The movement spread around the world and in America. With the growth of the #MeToo Movement, the campaign was extended to other people, such as members of the LGBTQ community and people with disabilities. To aid more people and increase its influence, the movement attempted to reformulate the way that the world talked about sexual violence (me too., 2018).
Me Too Movement and Sexual Violence
The #MeToo movement finally arose as a result of the persistent, ongoing practices of sexual violence. Power, or rather, enormous power disparities, has been one of the prevalent themes linked with sexual assault for far too long. The #MeToo campaign has attracted a large number of participants, many of whom have shared their own accounts of surviving sexual assault in the past. A powerful person uses their influence in many of these instances in blatantly destructive ways, and the survivors are frequently unwilling to come out for fear of losing their employment, prestige, connections, and other means of support.
Post #MeToo Movement, Heal and Enrich yourself with self-loveÂ
Understanding, Addressing, and Healing from Trauma: The ability of therapy to assist individuals in comprehending, confronting, and overcoming trauma is one of its most important advantages. This is frequently difficult. However, survivors and others can start to change with the help of counseling. Additionally, they can comprehend that whatever negative events they have had in life do not define or lessen who they are. Therapy is a valuable tool for the #MeToo movement because it teaches people that they can have a decent life despite unfortunate events. This is a crucial message, especially for those who are struggling and could use a sympathetic ear.
Knowing There Is Help Available: The #MeToo campaign is fantastic at letting survivors know that they are not alone and that aid is available. No matter where a victim is in their path, therapy helps to further reinforce this point. It is typical for survivors of sexual abuse or other traumatic events to feel entirely alone. This may lead to feelings of isolation, loneliness, and sadness. Thankfully, victims who have endured sexual assault can know that treatment is available thanks to the #MeToo movement and therapy. This has the power to drastically alter countless lives and raise the likelihood that someone may ask for assistance.