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The Fourth Anniversary of #MeToo: You Are Not Alone

Writer's picture: Judith Jackson-PomeroyJudith Jackson-Pomeroy

Updated: Jan 12, 2024


October 15th, 2017 was a day most of us were feeling alone. Then at noon, Alyssa Milano tweeted, "If you've been sexually harassed or assaulted write 'me too' as a reply to this tweet." Her tweet was in large part a response to the sexual assault allegations against Harry Weinstein.

Tarana Burke, activist and sexual assault survivor, first used the term in 2006 on Myspace, where she encouraged survivors to come together in solidarity (on social media) and break their silence. Burke was especially concerned with raising the voices of the most vulnerable survivors.

On the 4th anniversary of #MeToo the movement celebrated with a showcase of artistry that promotes the movement to end sexual violence. For a pick-me-up, I highly recommend you download the celebration! Note, you can also subscribe to updates from the #MeToo Organization at that link, which will provide you with all kinds of information and connect you to a deeply empathetic and supportive community.

As for me, my work to end sexual violence started in 1989. In my (more than) 30 years as a gender scholar, I've learned that (among other social causes) gender socialization (i.e., raising girls to "be girls" and boys to "be boys") is a major contributor to sexual violence against women. I will admit that, after 30 years in this fight, there are days when I feel utterly stricken with despair and hopelessness, but today I celebrate along

with all the survivors, and the women and men who work, pray, and protest along with me.

If you'd like to read my latest writing in this effort, please click here. This article, titled #MeToo: Sexual Violence, Race, and Black Girls Matter, was published in 2019 in collaboration with my esteemed colleagues, LaShawnda Lyndsay-Dennis, PhD, and Linda Williams, PhD, at The Justice and Gender-Based Violence Research Initiative at Wellesley Centers for Women, Wellesley College.

And, remember, you are not alone. Talk about it, and don't ever stop.

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