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January 2018
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Two Words That Speak Volumes: Me Too10/16/2017 #MeToo A new social media movement has been overwhelming Twitter and Facebook feeds. A movement with staggering numbers and a problem that, sadly, many women and men know all too well. The message was the same, but each story that emerged was personal—whether the poster chose to share their particular experience or not—and haunting. Such a simple objective. A click of the mouse to copy and paste. But the results were astounding. The message seems to have originated with actress Alyssa Milano to encourage women and men who had been sexually harassed or assaulted to join her by posting "Me Too" or #MeToo on social media platforms.
What is so incredible about #MeToo as a movement is that it is a simple way to break the silence. To show, in sheer numbers, how many people have been sexually harassed or assaulted. To shed a sliver of light on the magnitude of the issue. To break the comfortable silence surrounding an issue that is an everyday reality for many men and women across the world. We live in a culture and a society where sexual assault and harassment is happening and it is happening to so many that we know, love, and care for—whether we realize it or not. The American Association of University Women reports that 1 in 5 women is a target of sexual assault while in college. This is, without a doubt, a crisis that goes too often overlooked. The chance of a woman being sexually assaulted during college is about the same as her chance of catching the flu during an average year. It is a timely campaign. October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, recent and appalling allegations have emerged against Hollywood’s Harvey Weinstein, and the Education Department’s decision to withdraw Obama-era campus sexual assault guidance in late September is still a fresh wound to on-campus efforts to combat sexual assault and harassment. #MeToo is starting a conversation. It’s a way of telling survivors “You are not alone” through two simple words—Me Too—that speaks volumes. As we look to continue the dialogue about sexual harassment and assault and as we continue to see more voices adding to the conversation, there is something important that we must keep in mind that is best put by Huffington Post’s Associate Women’s Editor, Jenavieve Hatch. “There is no right or wrong way to be a survivor.” Thousands of women will take #MeToo as a chance to speak up and share. Thousands more will choose not to share. Remember that there is no right or wrong. The decision to share or not to share is completely one’s own. For all that have chosen to come forward to share in the past few days, thank you for doing so. You are not alone. #MeToo
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