What had started out as a TMZ like scandal has turned into a massive movement. Last week, the New York Times broke the story: Harvey Weinstein is a massive scumbag. The movie mogul will no longer be known for his work producing hit movies like Pulp Fiction, Shakespeare in Love, and Sex, Lies and Videotape. Instead he will be remembered as an egregious sexual offender.

This list of women who have come forward to say that Weinstein has assaulted, raped, or made them feel uncomfortable far outpaces the producers former raving reviews. However the problem is so much bigger than Weinstein, and to show the enormity of the problem, women from all over the world are taking to social media with the hashtag: #MeToo.

The Movement

Simultaneously an expression of solidarity and scope of the problem, each #MeToo represents a woman who has experienced sexual assault, harassment, abuse, or feelings of being unsafe. The copy and paste status says it all “If all the people who have been sexually harassed or assaulted wrote “Me too” as a status, we might give people a sense of the magnitude of the problem.”

To many, the wave of #MeToos were shocking. But to any aware observer of workplace gender dynamics, social scenes, or even commonplaces interactions, each new #MeToo that pops up on the twittersphere or Facebook timeline is disheartening, but not surprising.

Actress Alyssa Milano was one of the women to spearhead the movement on Twitter.

Gender Dynamics

We live in a world where men are on top, and often use their power in inappropriate ways. This tyranny over the female body, or any body, is a horrible, unforgiveable abuse of power. And yet, our culture of victim-blaming causes those who have faced abuse to keep quiet, suffering intense emotional, psychological, and sometimes physical damage. Just the fact that so many women waited so long before outing Weinstein for as an abuser and manipulator testament to this. Because of his elevated position in society, shrouded in power, he was able to get away with abusing women for decades.

Source: Houston Chronicles

Women on Topp

Here at SpreadLove we believe in the #MeToo movement. Not only does it encourage women to use their powerful voices to be heard, but it also shows the scope of the problem and the reality and consequences of unequal sexual power dynamics. SpreadLove’s mission is to empower women, and we think one of the solutions to this problem is to get more women on top. On top of the workforce, in politics, business, science… everywhere. This is why we frequently partner with Women on Topp, and discuss issues on our blog about empowerment.

Women are coming together and showing support for all those who have suffered sexual violence or harassment.

Next week, we’ll discuss how to take the #MeToo movement and make change, but for now we at SpreadLove would like to offer our support for any #MeToo poster, congratulate their bravery, and post a #MeToo ourselves.

Let us know what you think in the comments below, and if you’re comfortable, share with us your #MeToo story.

Xoxo, SpreadLove