The Future of the #MeToo Movement
2017 was a monumental year for the movement to end sexual violence. With countless individuals coming forward to share their experiences of survivorship and the #MeToo campaign going viral, individuals and institutions all over the world are taking a deeper look at their response to the full spectrum of sexual violence. At the Rape Recovery Center, we have seen the impact of this global conversation on a local level. During the last quarter of 2017, we provided 5,245 services to 498 survivors - an increase of over 40% in both services and survivors served from same quarter in 2016.
2017 was a monumental year for the movement to end sexual violence. With countless individuals coming forward to share their experiences of survivorship and the #MeToo campaign going viral, individuals and institutions all over the world are taking a deeper look at their response to the full spectrum of sexual violence. At the Rape Recovery Center, we have seen the impact of this global conversation on a local level. During the last quarter of 2017, we provided 5,245 services to 498 survivors - an increase of over 40% in both services and survivors served from the same quarter in 2016.
As we move into 2018, the question "What is next for the #MeToo movement?" seems to be on all of our lips. A coalition of local organizations, including the Rape Recovery Center, will be hosting a town hall conversation on January 30, 2018 to address this question on a local level. This inquiry was also addressed in a recent interview with the website Okayplayer by the founder of the #MeToo movement, Tarana Burke. An excerpt from this interview can be found below.
Tarana Burke, Founder of #MeToo
“When Burke talks about the future, she says that her focus will continue to be centering marginalized people and supporting survivors. She’s inspired by the #MeToo hashtag in places like Sweden who have taken it to another level, by adding other hashtags like #MeTooWaitresses or #MeTooClergy, or to bring attention to other industries besides politics and Hollywood.
“I never thought I’d see the day where there would be consequences for sexual abuse perpetrators against white women. It makes me hopeful that there’s the possibility for other people and for other industries,” says Burke. “We may not see a Harvey Weinstein level reckoning, but it could help shift the dialogue into low wage jobs or other areas with people that are not just celebrities and politicians.””
What are your thoughts on the future of the #MeToo movement? How would you like to see organizations like the Rape Recovery Center respond in this vital moment? We would love to hear your comments, below. Don't forget to join us on January 30, 2018 at the Glendale Library in Salt Lake City for a community discussion on this topic.