#MeToo goes from social media campaign to world-wide movement

By Faiza Amin

From a two-word social media hashtag to a world-wide movement denouncing sexual harassment, violence and assault. The #MeToo campaign continues to tackle sexual misconduct and abuse, and on Saturday, that took the form of a march that saw Torontonions rallying from Queen’s Park to Nathan Phillips Square.

Prior to the march, speakers took to the microphone to share their personal stories of being victims, survivors or simply allies to stand in unison with others.

“I’m a survivor of sexual assault, I did report it, I pressed charges,” said attendee Jess Janz. “They dismissed my case because they said they couldn’t determine the line of consent.”

Janz, who stood in a crowd of over 100, boldy holding a sign that read ‘believe surviviors’, says that experience made her feel let down, but she says it won’t stop her from using her voice.

“That completely let me down and it’s not good enough, I’m not okay with it,” she explained. “That’s why I’m here, to let my voice be heard. If it’s not through the judicial system then it can be through my own voice through movements like these.”

A number of other speakers also shared their stories. While some were there as allies, others spoke about their experiences.

“When I told my mother, she believed me,” a teary Jill Andrew told the crowd. “My mother believed every single word I said, every smile, every sight of debilitating memory I remembered.”

Andrew, who is the co-founder of Body Confidence Canada, is a survivor of child sexual abuse.

“I’m here to tell parents, teachers, to tell relatives that when children say they’re being hurt, listen to them,” she tells CityNews. “I’m so lucky to have had a mother who listened to me and believed every word and jumped into action. That isn’t the case for many.”

#MeToo has been credited for not only denouncing sexual harassment, assault and violence but for also creating a platform for others to share their stories.

The phrase first emerged 10 years ago, reportedly coined by Tarana Burke. On her website she writes the movement was intended to  “help survivors of sexual violence, particularly young women of colour from low wealthy communities, find pathways to healing.” Though it’s recent re-emergence on social media has been widely used and credited for creating a network of communities, some say it hasn’t been inclusive of all voices in the community.

“The representation of people of colour, of trans people, or homeless people and sex workers, it’s very low,” said Monica Forrester, a community activist and Trans woman. “Right now it seems very important, but when we all leave, is it just as important to make sure that every woman is safe and we speak on every woman’s experiences?”

Forrester says inclusivity starts by changing the way officials and society respond to sexual assault reports made by communities.

“We need parliament, governments, police, we need the justice systems and our courts to recognize these things also, and not to address these issues from marginalized groups from the embedded idea that they have about who was deservent and who wasn’t,”

With the popularity of the hashtag, the conversation has also shifted to now what, and how can this movement translate to action.

Those working in the field say more needs to be done to increase the visibility of these support networks.

“We need to amplify those voices and say, hey, in Toronto we have people doing this work,” said Yamikani Msosa from the Ryerson Office of Sexual Violence Support and Education. “Also, having conversation of what justice looks like for folks, because sometimes it’s not going to the police. So what other spaces can we cultivate where folks can get validated, get support they need and also receive tangible support.”

Saturday’s #MeToo March wasn’t the first. A similar one was held in Los Angeles early last month, where it was reported thousands took to the streets in support of sexual assault survivors.


Related stories:

#MeToo social media campaign goes viral
Cityline’s Tracy Moore joins #MeToo conversation with story of sex assault
Industries respond to #MeToo campaign


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