If you’ve been on social media over the last day or two, you’ve seen it: “Me too.” Women—and a few men—are flooding Facebook and Twitter with that message to raise awareness about sexual harassment and assault.
Women are not just telling their stories of assault, but of their silence about it:
“#MeToo When I served in the military,” tweeted one woman. “More than a few times. I stayed silent for self preservation. I regret it daily.”
“I imagine there are teen girls who haven’t told their parents they’ve been threatened, groped, even WORSE just like I didn’t,” wrote another.
Tens of thousands of people have participated, trying to convey just how common sexual harassment and assault is. Others have argued that anyone who’s managed to stay oblivious for this long isn’t going to see the light over social media, or have abstained for other reasons. And, as many have observed, plenty of women have this kind of story about the current occupant of the White House, but that didn't seem to make a difference last November.