Equality
Where to for #MeToo? Words: Hollie Fox / @holliefox
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Below: Women march across the world in support of the #MeToo campaign
Images: Shutterstock
“The most powerful way to explode the myth of individual responsibility, is simply to stand beside another woman and say ‘me too’”, said Sophie Walker of the Women’s Equality Party. It’s been a little over six months since the #MeToo movement pulsated through the social media sphere in a phenomenal way. A movement that not only exposed the abuse of power in Hollywood and prompted investigations into sexual misconduct in Parliament but reminded us that almost every woman has a similar story to tell. Half a year later, sexual politics still remains at the forefront of our minds. For many, #MeToo was the icebreaker for a new kind of conversation. Following the widespread support for the #MeToo movement, and outrage at the system of control that facilitated the loathsome behaviour of powerful men like Harvey Weinstein, over 300 female Hollywood Figures signed an open letter of solidarity for “courageous individuals [who] revealed the dark truth of ongoing sexual harassment and assault...in the entertainment industry.” In true Elle Woods fashion, Reese Witherspoon, and other notable women in the industry, spearheaded the Time’s Up campaign, which provides legal assistance to women who have been harassed in the workplace. They aimed to address “the systemic inequality and injustice in the workplace that have kept underrepresented groups from reaching their full potential.” “Time is up. We are no longer going to be harassed, we are no longer going to be mistreated or discriminated against or paid less money,” said Witherspoon, at an event honouring International Women’s Day at UN Headquarters. “We are going to create more opportunities for each other.” While the #MeToo movement has paved the way for huge progress, activists are worried that the hype can only take us so far. Laura Bates, founder of the #EverydaySexism movement, describes how she hopes #MeToo will bring about change. “I feel both wary and excited,” she confessed in an interview with The Guardian, “Part of me wants to believe that this really is a tipping point, and another part of me remembers the wise words of veteran feminist, Cynthia Enloe, who
recently asked: “How many tipping points have we had?” If this is the tipping point, what lies on the other side? Speaking at the United State of Women Summit in L.A., community organiser, Tarana Burke, who first used the phrase “Me Too” in 2006, called for activists to start taking action. “Me too was just two words; it’s two magic words that galvanised the world,” Burke said. “The work that needs to happen now is what happens after you said ‘me too’.” A call to action might just be what the movement needs, for as quickly as the conversation started, there were people ready to shut it down. With significant celebrity voices, from Liam Neeson to Brigitte Bardot, referring to the movement as a “witch hunt”. As amusing as it might be to imagine Meryl Streep throwing a bucket of water over Harvey Weinstein’s head, the backlash to #MeToo is often rooted in victim-blaming and accusing those who speak out of simply “hating men”. “The vast majority are being hypocritical and ridiculous,” said Bardot. “Lots of actresses try to play the tease with producers to get a role.” So, where to now? What happens after you’ve said “me too”? Speaking at the debate: “Has the #MeToo Movement Gone Too Far?”, WEP Leader, Sophie Walker, reminds us why it’s important that we continue to have this conversation: “#MeToo is challenging entrenched messages about individual responsibility.” “It’s in collective organising that women find strength.” It’s important that we are optimistic about the future and about the progress we’ve made towards creating an environment that means those who were brave enough to share their #MeToo stories, never feel silenced ever again. We can do this by supporting charities that help sexual assault survivors, by using our right to vote to make sure our representatives see these issues as a priority (Birmingham now has a Women’s Equality Party branch), and by pushing for reform in our workplaces and our justice system. Turning #MeToo from a hashtag into hope isn’t going to be easy, but that’s why it’s important.
