The internet produces a new hashtag every day. Any word or phrase can become a trending tag. One of those trending hashtags was #MeToo. This hashtag was more than just another popular saying; it was a movement that exposed the injustice that women endured.
In 2006, Tarana Burke coined the #MeToo phrase as a way to empower women who had experienced sexual violence, letting them know they were not alone. This phrase reached its peak popularity when Harvey Weinstein’s sexual harassment claims were published in 2017. As a result, many actors became incredibly vocal about Weinstein’s actions and embraced the #MeToo hashtag across their social media. Unbeknownst to the actors, this phrase caught on and skyrocketed.
A simple hashtag revealed the number of women who had been affected by some form of sexual harassment or assault. #MeToo was not a fad; it was a revolution that once more opened society’s eyes to assault happening behind closed doors. What began as a Twitter post became a global phenomenon that transcended national borders. For instance, Turkey had #uykularinkacsin (may you lose sleep), and #米兔 (“rice bunny” pronounced as “mi tu”) in China.
This movement showed that the internet can be a positive place for change. #MeToo prompted changes such as destigmatizing the issue, shifting social norms, building a community, and showing victims that their voices were being heard. However, COVID-19 slowed down the movement as domestic sexual violence rates increased dramatically during the quarantine period. Not only this, but the movement faced backlash fueled by the patriarchy and resistance to change. Needless to say, much work remains to be done. Society has to start taking accountability for abusers and making a safe space for victims to report the abuse. #MeToo is enough evidence to show that efforts are needed to bring victims the justice they deserve.