Analysis: The Me Too Movement

Sexual assault and rape are prevalent in today’s society. Since 1998, 17,700,000 women have reported a sexual assault (Burke, n.d.). Due to the severity, many movements have begun in order to bring to light the sexual assault and rape. Nearly 1 in 5 women and 1 in 71 men in the United States have been raped at some time in their lives, including completed forced penetration, attempted forced penetration, or alcohol/drug facilitated completed penetration (Violence Prevention, 2017). Currently, the Me Too movement has been receiving a lot of attention. Tarana Burke, an African American civil rights activist, began using the phrase "Me Too" in 2006. In 2017, people began using the phrase as a hashtag on social media and the movement gained more

This is still evident even though the Me Too movement gained traction. Take for instances, famous actress and neuroscientist, Mayim Bialik’s, comments on the Harvey Weinstein scandal. She wrote an opinion piece in the New York Times that belittled the experiences of Weinstein's victims. In her piece, “Being a feminist in Harvey Weinstein’s world,” she inadvertently implied that sexual assault and rape only happen to beautiful people. She discussed how throughout her life she has never felt very pretty and how others have judge her on her looks. She also discusses how she, personally, has decided to save her “sexual self” for private and how she has chosen not to flirt with men as a policy. In her article she states, “if you are beautiful and sexy, terrific, but having others celebrate your physical beauty is not the way to lead a meaningful life. And if — like me — you’re not a perfect 10, know that there are people out there who will find you stunning, irresistible and worthy of attention, respect and love. The best part is you don’t have to go to a hotel room or a castingcouch to find them.” Bialik’s comments trivialize the experiences of Weinstein victims by blaming their beauty and sex appeal. No matter what the victims looked like, what they acted like, or what they wore, nothing makes them responsible for what happened to them. The perpetrator of

People who use the hashtag have shared not only their experiences of sexual assault and rape but have also shared the after effects. For instance, famous singer, Lady Gaga, revealed that when she was 19 years old she was sexually assaulted and now suffers from PTSD similar to Walker’s Battered Women Syndrome. Walker's Battered Women’s Syndrome outlines the emotional and mental status of an abused or battered woman. This syndrome causes a woman to view herself as the reason for the abuse. The woman also fears for her own well being as well as that of her children. Finally, while experiencing this syndrome a woman may also think that her attacker is watching her and always around. This syndrome can lead to mental and emotional problems such as depression, alcoholism and other unhealthy methods of coping. Furthermore, the Me Too movement has proven how victims of sexual assault and rape often feel isolated and alone. Victim blaming makes these feelings unbearable. For example, if victims are faced with negative reactions after divulging their experience they may stop talking about their ordeal forever. Likewise, the victims may feel that they have no one to turn to due to the shame related to sexual assault and rape because of victim