At the beginning of this week, I found several friends were posting two small words. Unaware of how important those were, I searched until I found out why they were saying it. And then my heart broke. So many people, who I knew from youth and had grown with, had never talked about these things, except in those two words. It's heartbreaking and surreal to find you are not the only one who has choked down talking about it, whether it be one moment or many. What am I referencing? Well, it's simple.
#MeToo stands for more than a trend; it represents everyone (male, non-binary, female, etc.) that has ever been sexually harassed, abused, or assaulted. If anyone has ever violated your consent even, you are a part of this stand against belittling these things and acting as if it never happens because of someone else's reputation, or any other reason.
After Harvey Weinstein was exposed, and his reputation torn apart by those in Hollywood who have experienced his behavior first hand, celebrities such as Alyssa Milano began to ask others to retweet the phrase if it applied to them. And thousands responded.
The problem is, as old interviews have been brought to light, many celebrities have called him out before, and others like him, only to be ignored. Suppressing these acts is not only disgraceful but harmful to an environment that those of us who know what it is like are trying to dismantle.
Call out people who act like this, whether it be teenagers or even the oldest of their time because it is essential that this behavior gets nipped in the butt. Respect should be customary, not dependent on someone's attire or how they are acting. We shouldn't have to put up with this.
For example, at an Anderson, South Carolina, CookOut joint, a fifteen-year-old put a peace sign to his lips and then stuck out his tongue in a vulgar gesture towards me. I wanted to go cuss him out, but I was too hungry to deal with his crap.
Should I have said something? Probably. But to see minors do these things when they probably know better is not a good sign.
If you see these statuses today, or any day, understand that it is not easy admitting this. We are making a statement to those who pacify this behavior that it will not be tolerated because so many of us are fed up with it. And, ultimately, showing others that they are not alone.
