The Harvey Weinstein incident will be remembered for long as a bloody blot on Hollywood. Allegations of sexual assault being thrown left and right, old skeletons dug from the closet, and it all ended with Weinstein being removed from not only his own company, but the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences as well. For one so influential and powerful in the industry, it must have been a rude awakening for him, but many would say he had it coming.
But the episode has also inspired a movement, one in which people, women or men, are slowly crawling out of the woodworks to share their unpleasant encounters with creeps, stalkers and assaulters, would-be or otherwise.
Spurred on by a message posted by 'My Name is Earl' star Alyssa Milano on Twitter, over a 100,000 people have taken on to Facebook and Twitter to share some of their sordid stories and encounters with sexual harassment.
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 hashtag, #MeToo, as it's being called, is being used to get people to talk about the problem.
Have a look at a few tweets below:
Drunk , and horny he felt the need to touch me when I just wanted to sleep. Im still afraid. I will never forgive him #MeToo
— sad kyla (@kyla_marylynn) October 17, 2017
The problem never stops, not if society itself ostracizes the victim:
#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.
When I spoke up about my abuse and rapes, I was told I was lying, because that's not how someone reacts to being raped.#MeToo #Endthestigma
— Michea B ⚧ 👽 (@RedHeadedAuthor) October 17, 2017
If you’re wondering what “being part of the problem” looks like, here’s a perfect example. #MeToo pic.twitter.com/VxKbymD15x
— Chelsea King (@chelslynne_k) October 17, 2017
#MeToo Brutally raped at 14. My own dad blamed me. Victim shaming is rampant in U.S. I stand with other sexual assault survivors. pic.twitter.com/Lvzc1mYquF
— Lauren Steen (@LaurenKataya61) October 17, 2017
For there are always two sides to a coin:
unfriendly reminder that every #metoo is accompanied by an #ididit
— sandra song (@sndrsng) October 17, 2017
Courage takes some time to come forth, but it eventually does:
5 yrs ago I was molested by a family friend, 1 month ago I finally told my mom. Sexual assault is never a victims fault. Stay strong.#MeToo
— melysa (@missysauter) October 17, 2017
Some do acknowledge that just because women are more in the light over sexual assault that the other sides are no better off:
It can happen to anybody.
— Jessica Letts (@4MagikarpetRide) October 16, 2017
Men. People of colour. People in the LGBT+ community. The homeless.
It should happen to nobody.#MeToo
Guys, we want to hear your stories, too. Women are not the only victims of abuse... don’t believe the stereotype. #MeToo
— hope (@hopeskelley) October 17, 2017
The only thing worse than one incident is two incidents:
#MeToo because I was trusting, naive, and 15. because my second encounter was "two bad things can't happen to one person."
— the mom (@rayjayyy__) October 17, 2017
Not even the children are spared, leaving them with scars that go deep and last long:
I wrote a small bit more on insta abt the #metoo tag 📝 pic.twitter.com/w1ReZc4vlX
— ginger @ meow🍒 (@KomunHorangi) October 16, 2017
While others comment on how far things have gone that a hashtag is needed to make people see the truth:
Unfortunately we need a goddamn hashtag campaign to make people believe sexual harassment/assault is a problem #MeToo
— spookylady (@Erin_DS) October 16, 2017
A LifeProTip for those who would be otherwise inclined to leer at women:
In light of #MeToo, a GREAT rule of thumb for anyone wondering if they are getting ready to say something terrible.#StopRapeCulture pic.twitter.com/dZzljMux0w
— USMC (@johnpmcneil02) October 16, 2017
Deccan Herald is on WhatsApp Channels| Join now for Breaking News & Editor's Picks