If you haven't heard by now, there is currently a movement known as #MeToo. The idea is that any woman who has ever been sexually harassed or assaulted share the simple hashtag #MeToo to help shed a light on just how prevalent this issue is in our society.
Now, most women know that statistic, "1 in 4 women will be sexually assaulted in her lifetime."
But what if I told you I'm pretty sure it's more than that? Sometimes I feel every single one of us has to deal with some type of invasion of our privacy, our personal space or even our genitalia.
For me, it was something I wasn't even sure I could identify as rape. I mean, I liked the guy and we'd had consensual sex before. Is my vagina the kind of place with an all access pass? Like once you're in, you're in for life? These were legitimate questions I asked myself after a drunken night where I clearly remember saying NO and him not really giving a fuck.
So yeah, we all have our experience right? I found this to be an even truer statement when I got to college. I have met incredible young women from around the globe, and it seems as though there always comes a point in the night when you start to exchange these stories and we all end up saying "me too."
I think the #MeToo movement has a serious power. It's the conversation we all have with each other and we're finally letting the world in. Do I think a hashtag will stop rape? Absolutely not. Educating young men to be respectful and understand consent will be the actual change, but #MeToo isn't hurting.
If this movement has shown me--someone who was already convinced of the prevalence of sexual assault--that the numbers are staggering, imagine what it's doing for young women who are too scared to come forward. Or for that kid at the party who sees a girl carried into an empty room and instead of leaving her to the vultures, gets her a ride home. Or for the men who think we are all teases and deserve it.
If you're a man surprised by #MeToo, you're not listening to the women in your life or they aren't comfortable talking to you. Fix that.
— Robbie Kemp (@Robbie_the_Kemp) October 18, 2017
Maybe now they will see that this issue effects their mothers, sisters, daughters and friends and not just women archetypes depicted on episodes of Law & Order: SVU.
I read an article while doing research that stated this was really a divisive plot by feminists on account of our obsession with victimhood. Funny how even in simply sharing a hashtag to acknowledge our stories, we are shamed out of it.
#MeToo isn’t a pity party for women and men who’ve dealt with this. It’s real proof that this isn’t ok and it happens. Every. Single. Day.
— Morgan Taylor (@radiomorgtaylor) October 18, 2017
One message I have seen over the week is one I want to reiterate here; If you are a victim of sexual assault and you do not use the #MeToo hashtag, no one can revoke your feminist card or shame you into sharing your story.
It took me years to even tell my best friend what happened to me. Your story is yours to keep, to share or to burn.
What's important for me to tell you is that you are never alone and your experience with sexual assault does not define you or make you any less of an incredible life giving, boot stomping, knowledge possessing powerhouse of a woman.