How the #MeToo Movement Started

This tweet above was followed by a huge response. Two days after this tweet was posted there were over 12 million responses to this tweet. Men and women who are victims of sexual assault responded with #MeToo, including celebrities like Lady Gaga, Reese Witherspoon, Angelina Jolie, Uma Thurman, and sadly so much more. The initial purpose of this tweet was to show how many people have been victims of sexual assault and rape. The #MeToo movement was so huge that TIME magazine named everyone who was part of the #MeToo movement person of the year.

However, Milano’s tweet wasn’t the initial start of the #MeToo movement. It was started in 2007 by a woman named Tarana Burke. She started the movement after she listened to a 13 year old girl tell her story about sexual assault in 1997. Ten years later, she started a nonprofit organization that helps victims of sexual assault and rape. She named her organization “Me Too.” After the tweet by Alyssa Milano, there was outrage because she did not credit Burke. Milano addressed the issue and corrected her mistake.

The Storm that Followed

In the last few months, Harvey Weinstein, Kevin Spacey, Larry Nassar, and many more have been accused of sexual assault. Weinstein faces dozens of accusations from women he sexually assaulted. Kevin Spacey has at least 15 accusers allegedly saying he sexually assaulted them. Larry Nassar has over 265 identified victims, along with charges of child porn and faces life in prison.

The whole idea of the #MeToo movement was to amplify the voices of survivors of sexual assault and rape. This movement was successful in doing so.  Not only did this movement help people get their voices heard, it inspired people to be brave and tell their story.

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, there are people that want to help you. You don’t have to be quiet.

National Sexual Assault Hotline: 

1-800-656-4673