Maintaining the Meaning of the #MeTooMovement

For decades, women all around the world have been raped, sexually harassed and silenced to preserve the career and reputation of their abuser. Women have been taught to live with their trauma and go about their daily life because a woman is supposed to “carry on.” However, with another women’s rights movement emerging, more and more people are being held accountable for their despicable actions. Most notably in America, Hollywood film producer Harvey Weinstein has had several allegations of rape and assault against him. Recently, Weinstein went to trial. Weinstein was found guilty of rape and criminal sexual assault, although, he was acquitted of two counts of predatory sexual assault, which has consequently toppled the film industry.

The #MeToo Movement, which is what brought Weinstein to justice, has empowered thousands of women and victims of sexual abuse to come forth with their stories after years of maintaining silence. What was once acceptable or brushed under the rug is no longer being tolerated. Society is finally seeing the injustices done to women and other marginalized groups by entitled, rich and powerful men who believe that they can get away with anything. For too long victims have been told that they are lucky, dirty or that it was their fault. As author Chessy Prout said, “Rape is not punishment for bad judgment.” Wearing revealing clothing is not “asking” for it, nor is it an excuse to touch someone without their consent. Drinking too much at an event is not a reason to be taken advantage of by someone. So many people have been hurt and traumatized because of statements like these and because of such toxic mindsets.

Not just that, but society needs to acknowledge that victims may respond differently to abuse. Several of the accusers in Weinstein’s trial still maintained contact with him and even engaged in friendly relations after they were mistreated. Others completely cut off contact from him, wishing never to see such a man again. Reacting differently to trauma does not make someone’s abuse any less valid. It makes them human. Jessica Mann, one of Weinstein’s accusers, was in a relationship with him and had engaged in consensual acts with him, but as one of the jurors said, “It does not preclude her right to withhold consent, regardless of the behavior before or after.” One’s behavior before or after being abused does not negate or invalidate the abuse that they endured. What truly matters is what happened at that moment and if both parties consented. Rape is still rape.

Those who came forward to testify against Weinstein had immense courage, as they were willing to relive their trauma, both in court and during interviews, in order to put a guilty man in jail. These women did it so that no one else would have to experience what they did, which is a feat in itself. Those who came forward in the Weinstein case had to look their abuser in the eyes and watch him attempt to defend himself and make them look like the villain; this must have been a painful process, but it also demonstrates the amount of strength these women have. The Weinstein case was atrocious and the acts he committed were disgusting, but American society is starting to change for the better. There are more effective workplace sexual harassment laws, people to talk to about one’s experiences and resources for representation. Sexual assault victims have been ignored and called liars by the public, as well as by the media, but they finally are comfortable enough to come forward and talk about what happened to them. This shift in how society views sexual harassment is not just a big leap for women, but one for mankind.