While significant battles in the fight for gender equality have been triumphant, the war has not yet been won. Our society as a whole needs an attitude adjustment when it comes to the treatment and perception of women. One radical tactic implemented by the feminist movement that is serving this agenda is spreading awareness via social media. The most buzz-worthy example of this approach is the viral #MeToo movement in which millions of people have shared their personal experiences with sexual harassment and assault online. The #MeToo movement is shedding light on the magnitude of this problem and is illustrating that sexual assault can and does happen to anyone, anywhere, anytime, thus proving that society is in desperate need of reformation. In addition, this campaign is showing women that they are not alone. The hashtag is empowering many to contribute their voices and experiences and is serving as an instrument for enacting social change.

#MeToo isn’t the only social media campaign to shed light on the scope of sexual assault. A few other examples include the Instagram account Cheer Up Luv, which is a photojournalism project that retells women’s stories of sexual harassment, and the #NotGuilty campaign against sexual violence and misdirected victim blaming founded by Ione Wells. In her TedTalk, “How We Talk About Sexual Assault Online,” Ione Wells (2016) explains that #NotGuilty was “giving airtime to the issue of sexual assault, opening up discussions amongst friends, amongst families, in the media that had been closed for too long, and stressing that victims shouldn’t feel to blame for what happened to them” She stresses that “we can begin to use social media as an active tool for social justice, as a tool to educate, to stimulate dialogues, to make those in positions of authority aware of an issue by listening to those directly affected by it” (para. 28). While it must have been exceptionally difficult for these women to broadcast their stories, it has resulted in a watershed moment.

For instance, Time Magazine named their 2017 Person of the Year “The Silence Breakers,” in reference to the people, mostly women, who came forward to report sexual harassment and assault and launched this viral movement. In 2016, Donald Trump was selected as Time’s Person of the Year. Over the course of his presidential campaign, Mr. Trump received allegations from over a dozen women accusing him of sexual misconduct and assault. Despite this, he went on to win the presidential race and was deemed person of the year. This stark juxtaposition between the 2016 and 2017 recipients serves as affirmation that radical action via social media can produce change.

It is imperative that we keep fighting via social media and keep the topic of sexual assault and gender inequality alive and relevant until we see a lasting change and dismantlement of the patriarchal system.

 

By Abby Hawkins