MeToo [ a ] is a social movement and awareness campaign against sexual abuse , sexual harassment and rape culture , in which women publicize their experiences of sexual abuse or sexual harassment. Following the exposure of numerous sexual-abuse allegations against film producer Harvey Weinstein in October , [ 7 ] [ 8 ] the movement began to spread virally as a hashtag on social media. Widespread media coverage and discussion of sexual harassment, particularly in Hollywood , led to high-profile terminations from positions held, as well as criticism and backlash.
After millions of people started using the phrase and hashtag in this manner in English, the expression began to spread to dozens of other languages. The scope has become somewhat broader with this expansion, however, and Burke has more recently referred to it as an international movement for justice for marginalized people.
The original purpose of "Me Too" as used by Tarana Burke in was to empower women through empathy, especially young and vulnerable women. In October , Alyssa Milano encouraged using the phrase as a hashtag to help reveal the extent of problems with sexual harassment and assault by showing how many people have experienced these events themselves.
It therefore encourages women to speak up about their abuses, knowing that they are not alone. After millions of people started using the phrase, and it spread to dozens of other languages, the purpose changed and expanded, and as a result, it has come to mean different things to different people.
Tarana Burke accepts the title of "leader" of the movement, but has stated that she considers herself more of a "worker".
