Table of contentsIntroductionThe origin and evolution of the MeToo movementThe main objective of the movementThe life cycle of the movementConclusionIntroductionThe MeToo movement, a formidable social initiative, fights against sexual violence and sexual assault inflicted on individuals. Its success lies in questioning the objectification of people. This movement is dedicated to helping survivors of sexual assault, violence, and harassment, particularly those who face systemic disadvantage, such as people of color, women, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and young women from from low-income backgrounds, by offering them access routes. to healing. In the context of social movements, various social groups occupy different statuses and, unfortunately, some hold more power and privilege than others. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why violent video games should not be banned”?Get the original essay Levchak (2019) highlights the distinction between advantaged and disadvantaged groups, with advantaged groups enjoying greater access to social power and privileges based on their social status. , while disadvantaged groups face limited or denied access due to lack of support. It is in this context that individuals from disadvantaged groups are more likely to become targets, as they often lack access to resources, live in fear and are often neglected. This vulnerability becomes particularly pronounced when they fall prey to individuals in positions of power who possess greater wealth and the means to access resources (Levchak 2019: 1). However, it is essential that survivors recognize that they are not alone. The main goal of the MeToo movement is to reach out to survivors by providing them with resources that may not have been available before, allowing them to continue their lives and thrive despite their traumatic experiences. The movement offers a wide range of resources, including healing practices and toolkits, as well as creating safe spaces locally and nationally where survivors of sexual violence can find support. Additionally, the movement aspires to empower survivors, emphasizing that being a survivor does not define one's entire identity. Survivors are not alone; they have a community of individuals ready to provide support. In an effort to raise awareness and educate others, the movement is led by a “community of survivor-led advocates” (Burke 2017: Me Too Movement). Survivors have triumphed over immense adversity, and their stories have deep meaning that can inspire and help others. If survivors feel comfortable sharing their perspectives and stories, the movement welcomes their contributions because they bring people together. Burke (2017) states that “sexual violence is usually caused by someone the woman knows. People should therefore be informed from a young age that they have the right to say no to sexual contact from any person, even after repeated requests from an authority or authority. spouse and report predatory behavior” (Burke 2017: Me Too Movement). Therefore, the movement advocates for changes in laws and policies, recognizing the imperative need for an evolving legal framework that adapts to societal transformations. These proposed legal changes will be implemented in educational institutions, workplaces and insociety as a whole, holding perpetrators accountable for their actions. their actions. The MeToo movement seeks to make these changes lasting goals, encompassing initiatives such as processing all untested rape kits, reviewing local school policies, improving the teacher selection process, and updating sexual harassment policies. Additionally, individuals working with students will be required to undergo fingerprinting and background checks before being allowed to work (Walker, 2019: Everyday Democracy). The Origin and Evolution of the MeToo Movement The creation of the MeToo movement dates back to 2006, when Tarana Burke, in the era of social media domination by MySpace, frequently posted the phrase "me too." She used the phrase to highlight her personal experiences as a survivor of sexual harassment, using it as a way to reach out and connect with others dealing with similar struggles. When it was established, its primary goal was to raise awareness of the alarming prevalence of sexual harassment, particularly in the context where many black women are targeted without any effective recourse. However, the movement gained popularity and media attention in October 2017 when actress Alyssa Milano adopted Burke's phrase and introduced the hashtag #metoo on Twitter. With this hashtag, Milano urged people who have been victims of sexual harassment or assault to respond “me too” to his tweet, thus facilitating the spread of the message. Subsequently, she discovered that the hashtag was originally introduced by Tarana Burke. Milano acknowledged this and said, “I just learned about a previous #MeToo movement, and the origin story is both heartbreaking and inspiring” (NBC News, 2018). The #metoo movement quickly spread around the world, becoming the international voice of survivors. In just 24 hours after its appearance, Facebook recorded more than 12 million posts, comments and reactions (Khomami, 2017). The evolution of the movement led to its creation as an organization, with a central online presence serving as a repository of legislative information, toolkits and advocacy resources aimed at helping survivors of assault and sexual abuse. Despite its digital core, the movement also organizes speaking engagements and awareness training sessions to improve the safety of women in educational and professional environments (Me Too, 2017). The catalyst for the rapid growth of this movement was the wave of allegations against Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein. Alyssa Milano, a prominent figure, was among those who criticized Hollywood's handling of these issues. She thought she couldn't be the only one facing these challenges. Hollywood had become known for downplaying aggression toward women, with the historical expectation that actresses should put up with the actions of their male counterparts, no matter how hostile or offensive those interactions might be. This movement used testimonies of traumatic experiences involving individuals like Harvey Weinstein, Matt Lauer, and Louis CK to illustrate that such exploitation transcended the boundaries of the film industry and occurred at different levels of society (Khomami, 2017 ). The MeToo movement has made significant progress in promoting progressive change. For example, several states have banned nondisclosure agreements (NDAs) that previously protected perpetrators of sexual harassment allegations. This development brings financial relief to womenwho previously struggled with the dilemma of choosing between selling their silence or standing up for themselves. Additionally, the movement gained momentum in its campaign to abolish the tipped minimum wage, a practice in effect since 1966, stemming from the economic conditions of the Vietnam War. The tipped minimum wage system is detrimental to the working class because it relies on the corporate adage “the customer is always right.” However, when individuals experience harassment or exploitation from customers, they may be reluctant to report such incidents, fearing they will lose their chance to earn a living. between sexual violence and sexual harassment. Sexual violence encompasses various forms of non-consensual sexual activity, including sexual assault, domestic violence, unwanted touching, attempted rape, and full-blown rape. On the other hand, sexual harassment involves unwanted sexual advances, requests for sexual behavior, or any verbal or physical behavior of a sexual nature (Sepulveres, 2017). This problem is increasingly recognized as a social problem, with an increasing number of victims, but not limited to it. to women and children, but also having an impact on members of the LGBTQ+ community. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, 2019), alarming statistics reveal that a significant percentage of lesbians, bisexual women, gay men, bisexual men, and transgender people have been victims of violence or sexual harassment during their lives. The problem extends beyond local and national borders, with cases of sexual violence and harassment occurring internationally. In Nigeria, for example, nearly 300 schoolgirls were kidnapped by the militant group Boko Haram, leading to the reorientation of the #metoo movement towards #bringbackourgirls. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) successfully negotiated the return of approximately 100 of these girls (Matfess, 2017). Predatory behavior knows no bounds and targets individuals at work, school and in public spaces. Perpetrators of these crimes may not fit the stereotypical criminal profile and often wield power and privilege, preying on those who may share a similar social class, gender, or race. Intersectionality theory, as discussed by Levchak (2019), emphasizes the interaction of a person's identity factors, such as gender, race, class, and sexuality, in creating disadvantages. Privilege and oppression are closely related concepts, with privilege providing unearned access to resources available to some, while oppression represents a system maintaining advantages and disadvantages based on membership in a social group (Levchak, 2019). . The MeToo movement has called on men to actively attack and fight back. inappropriate behavior, emphasizing the importance of not being bystanders. Evans (2019) highlights the importance of the bystander effect and the need for individuals to intervene effectively to prevent violence and change harmful social norms. It is crucial to become allies with oppressed groups, including women, children and the LGBTQ+ community, recognizing that their lives matter regardless of their personal experiences. Collective action, as Levchak (2019) explains, involves working together to achieve common goals. Former NFL player turned activist Wade Davis rightly stated that the #metoo movement aims to combat the collective inconsideration of a genre as a whole (Salam, 2018). The movement inspired various organizations and follow-up movements, including #howiwillchange and#Ididthat. , both founded by men seeking to close the gender gap and be allies in the fight for women's rights. These initiatives recognize that although men are not directly affected, their actions and attitudes play an important role in creating a safe and equitable environment for women (Salam, 2018). The Life Cycle of the Movement The MeToo movement owes its existence to the dedicated individuals who rallied to its cause, embodying the essence of activism. Activists are individuals who identify a social change they believe in, devoting their time and energy to advancing that cause, often putting their personal lives, careers, and even families on hold to focus on the well-being of others. (Oliver, 1992). The core of their activism lies in achieving social change that benefits individuals or groups beyond themselves. Successful activists possess a clear understanding of their goals and the tools needed to achieve them, meticulously planning and organizing every facet of their movement (Oliver, 1992). The life cycle of a social movement occurs in four stages: emergence, coalescence, bureaucratization, and decline. The first stage, emergence, marks the beginning of a movement, where the initial idea takes root (Christensen, 1). In the case of the MeToo movement, that genesis dates back to Tarana Burke's MySpace.post and gained momentum when actress Alyssa Milano brought media attention to the cause. The second step, coalescence, is crucial, because movements encounter obstacles and must work around them. It is during this phase that leadership emerges and strategies for success are formulated (Christensen, 3). The MeToo movement has unequivocally defined its objectives: to fight sexual assault and violence against marginalized groups, including women, children and the LGBTQ+ community. Supporters mobilized in significant numbers, harnessing the power of social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook, amplifying the movement's reach and raising public awareness. The third stage, bureaucratization, represents the consolidation of a movement after overcoming obstacles and gaining prominence. In this phase, movements must leverage their new visibility to advance their agenda, networking and executing larger-scale initiatives (Christensen, 3). The MeToo movement has gained traction with a strong online presence, providing survivor resources, shelters, training and toolkits. Additionally, the movement organizes events, including presentations at colleges and universities, to educate students about the bystander effect and the services available. For example, in April 2019, they undertook a roadshow to historically black colleges, featuring survivors as guest speakers who shared their stories (Me Too, 2017). The final stage, decline, is not necessarily negative; it can refer to both the end of a movement or its successful culmination and its transition to new efforts. At this stage, there are four possible outcomes. Repression occurs when authorities or agents use force, such as riot controls or arrests, to quell a movement. Co-optation occurs when movement leaders become too entrenched in their cause, thereby undermining their broad appeal. Success signifies the achievement of the movement's goals, marking a triumphant conclusion. Finally, a decline can occur due to internal or external factors, leading to the erasure of a movement (Christensen, 4). In814096