MeToo

MeToo
Alec Perkins from Hoboken, USA · CC BY 2.0 · source
Name	MeToo
Founded	2006 (origins); 2017 (global surge)
Founders	Tarana Burke (originator); Alyssa Milano (amplifier)
Focus	Anti-sexual harassment and assault advocacy
Methods	Social media campaigning, legal advocacy, public testimony

MeToo The movement addressing sexual harassment and assault gained renewed international prominence in 2017 after high-profile allegations against figures in Hollywood, Washington, D.C., and New York City surfaced, catalyzing widespread public disclosure, institutional reckoning, and policy initiatives. The movement's contemporary phase intersected with campaigns, investigations, legal actions, and cultural debates involving actors, politicians, journalists, executives, unions, and academic institutions across North America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Its origins trace to earlier grassroots organizing, survivor advocacy, and public-awareness campaigns led by activists and nonprofit organizations.

Origins and Early History

The phrase's initial circulation emerged in activist work by Tarana Burke in 2006 while organizing with Just Be Inc. and collaborating with community groups in New York City, Philadelphia, and Atlanta to support survivors through peer-based programming and partnerships with groups such as Girls for Gender Equity and Rainn. Influences included earlier movements and campaigns like Take Back the Night, SlutWalk, and survivor testimony in inquiries such as the Toronto Rape Crisis Centre initiatives and report-driven reforms following incidents in institutions like Stanford University and Rutgers University. Early legal and policy context involved statutes and case law under federal frameworks such as litigation overseen by courts in California and New York and advocacy through organizations like the ACLU and Human Rights Watch.

Movement Growth and Global Spread

After a public social-media amplification by actress Alyssa Milano and reporting by outlets including The New York Times, The New Yorker, and The Washington Post, the movement expanded rapidly, producing localized campaigns in countries such as India (sparked by conversations after cases like the Nirbhaya case), France (linked to debates involving figures tied to Paris institutions), South Korea (involving disclosures in Seoul entertainment and corporate sectors), Brazil (intersecting with activism in São Paulo), and Australia (involving inquiries in institutions such as Australian Broadcasting Corporation and universities). Transnational networks of NGOs including Amnesty International, Equality Now, and UN Women engaged with national governments, labor unions like SEIU and Unite the Union, and professional associations in sectors from film and television to academia and medicine. Major journalism collaborations such as the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists and investigative projects by outlets like BBC and ProPublica further amplified cross-border allegations and institutional reviews.

Key Campaigns, Events, and Figures

High-profile accusations against individuals in entertainment, media, and politics involved actors such as Harvey Weinstein and producers affiliated with studios including Miramax and The Weinstein Company, journalists like Charlie Rose and anchors connected to networks like CBS News and PBS, and politicians or staffers tied to institutions in Washington, D.C. and state capitols. Landmark events included investigative series in The New York Times and The New Yorker, congressional testimony before committees in United States Congress, Senate hearings addressing confirmation processes for nominees to the Supreme Court such as accusations surrounding figures linked to major cases, and mass demonstrations coordinated with organizations including Time's Up and grassroots groups in cities like Los Angeles and London. Advocates and public figures involved for survivors and reform included activists Tarana Burke, attorneys associated with civil suits and class actions, labor leaders in unions like SAG-AFTRA, and journalists from outlets such as The Guardian and The Atlantic.

Impact on Law, Policy, and Institutions

The movement precipitated legislative proposals and enacted reforms addressing workplace harassment, reporting procedures, and nondisclosure agreements in jurisdictions such as California Legislature, New York State Assembly, and parliaments in United Kingdom and Canada. Institutional responses included internal investigations at universities including Harvard University and University of California campuses, corporate policy revisions at companies like Uber Technologies and Google, and union negotiations within guilds such as Writers Guild of America and Directors Guild of America. Judicial outcomes ranged from criminal prosecutions and civil settlements involving district courts and appellate courts to changes in enforcement by agencies like the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and public inquiries modeled after commissions in countries such as Ireland and South Africa.

Criticisms, Controversies, and Debates

Critiques addressed due process concerns cited by legal scholars and commentators in outlets like The New York Times Opinion, debates over the role of nondisclosure agreements spotlighted in litigation involving companies such as Fox News and NBCUniversal, and questions about media standards following journalism investigations at organizations like The New Yorker and Reuters. Debates also emerged around intersectionality raised by activists connected to groups like Black Lives Matter and National Organization for Women, tensions between restorative and punitive approaches discussed in academic forums at institutions such as Columbia University and Oxford University, and political polarization reflected in coverage by outlets including Fox News and CNN.

Cultural and Media Influence

The movement influenced film and television productions, awards ceremonies such as the Academy Awards and Golden Globe Awards, and publishing trends with memoirs and investigative books from journalists at The New York Times and Vanity Fair. Entertainment industry reforms involved agencies like Creative Artists Agency and studios including Warner Bros.; cultural conversations extended into music scenes in cities like Nashville and festivals such as Cannes Film Festival. Academic conferences, social-science research at universities including Stanford University and University of Cambridge, and public policy forums at institutions like Brookings Institution and Harvard Kennedy School continued to analyze the movement's long-term effects on norms, institutions, and law.

Category:Social movements