Goodpilled by #MeToo

Unless you've been living under a rock, you've undoubtedly heard about the #metoo movement. If for some reason my blog is the first place you've been online in several years, then welcome! We have a lot of catching up to do! The #metoo movement is a movement empowering people, specifically women, to raise their voices about their experiences of sexual assault and harassment. #MeToo’s mission statement says that the movement is particularly keen to help black women and women of color from lower wealth communities. Interestingly enough, #MeToo

Started in 2006, and only gained international exposure recently. While one of #MeToo’s objectives is to help survivors of sexual violence speak out, they also want to provide psychological support to the survivors, connecting them to organizations that can help them, and create “long term, systemic change” to change societies and bring an end to sexual violence. This is a goal that I believe is far more ambitious and noble than simply raising awareness.

A Huffpost article tells about Terry Crews’ involvement in the #MeToo movement. “Terry Crews is encouraging sexual assault survivors to internalize the following mantra: “I will not be shamed, I did nothing wrong.” (Huffpost, 01/30/2019) This was very inspiring to me because Terry Crews is one of my favourite actors

“I think one of the strongest impacts has been that there are a lot of women who realize they’re not alone. Male survivors too, but predominantly women. And I think that’s been incredibly powerful,” (Folio News, 29/01/2019)

The bestselling author, dubbed “the queen of the bonkbuster”, told the Press Association: “I think because men are being so diminished now, everywhere – Me Too, Me Too, Me Too. I think [50 Shades Of Grey character] Christian Grey is whacking away and he’s a dominant male."

She added: “I think, secretly, women, although they want to be in the ascendancy, they are quite attracted by the idea of a dominant male... They obviously like a very tough man.” (Independent, 30/01/2019) I think that Jilly Cooper has a point here, that the majority of women are attracted to a strong, dominant, gentlemanly character. However I don’t think that the advances of the #MeToo movement will affect the confidence of any truly well meaning gents.