Me Too / #MeToo
Me Too / #MeToo – from the English phrase me too – is a mass social movement and survivor-support initiative for people, especially women, who have experienced sexual harassment, sexual assault, or sexual violence. The movement was founded in 2006 by Tarana Burke, an American civil rights activist.
Burke originally developed the phrase me too while working with Just Be, a non-profit organization she founded in 2003 to support the well-being of young women of color. During a conversation with a young girl who disclosed that she had experienced repeated sexual abuse, Burke struggled to find the right words. What she wished she had been able to say was: “me too.”
For Burke, the phrase has a double meaning. On the one hand, it is a courageous declarative statement that says: “I am not ashamed” and “I am not alone.” On the other hand, it is a message from one survivor to another: “I see you, I hear you, I understand you, and I am here for you” (Tarana Burke Biography, 2019).
The motto of the movement is empowerment through empathy.
On October 15, 2017, the Me Too movement became the viral hashtag #MeToo after actress Alyssa Milano encouraged women to share their experiences of sexual harassment and sexual violence online. The hashtag gained global visibility in the context of public revelations about Harvey Weinstein. Within several days, more than 12 million people had used #MeToo on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
Reference:
Tarana Burke Biography. (2019, April 15). A&E Television Networks. Retrieved from https://www.biography.com/activist/tarana-burke
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