More Than A Magazine, A Movement
Every October since 2017, we have celebrated the continued creativity from activist Tarana Burke, who founded the Me Too Movement back in 2006, and the courage of actor Alyssa Milano, who helped the hashtag go viral by sharing her own experience on Twitter.
As a survivor, I want to share what we have achieved in establishing sexual assault awareness and supporting survivors, while educating about the work we still need to do.
Bill Barr’s Justice Department attempted (unsuccessfully) to argue in court that those harmed by Trump’s lies—such as rape survivor E. Jean Carroll—should not be able to sue him for the harm he causes.
“Nobody in this nation is above the law. Nobody is entitled to conceal acts of sexual assault behind a wall of defamatory falsehoods and deflections.” says journalist and writer E. Jean Carroll, who brought a lawsuit against the President.
Nineteen states have adopted new sexual harassment protections over the last three years—but we still have a long way to go, says a new report released by the National Women’s Law Center (NWLC).
“For too long in Hollywood, there have been ‘open secrets’ about the harassment perpetrated on workers by powerful people who are able to successfully evade accountability for their actions,” said Anita Hill, chair of The Hollywood Commission for Eliminating Harassment and Advancing Equality. “With this survey, we have identified the most vulnerable workers in Hollywood and the resources and systems that will provide support and a safety net for them. Our expectation is that these tools will be the foundation to build a new era of transparency and accountability for all workers in the entertainment industry.”
Are things any better for women than they were in 2017? A recent report from Women Who Tech breaks it down.
From unwanted comments about our appearances to being sexually assaulted to inappropriate questions about our sex lives—still, women aren’t being treated with respect and professionalism.
Fundamentally, the catalyst driving #MeToon was the group of courageous women who empowered one another to speak out.
#MeToon has not only advanced strategies for resisting the prevalence of sexual harassment in Hollywood, but also demonstrated how allies such as trade unions can actively promote social equality. Together, women and their allies drew a line—in bold—and the animation industry seems to be getting the picture.
The Survivors’ Agenda aims to create a platform that “drives policy change and systems to build a world that is free of violence.” In engaging in virtual town halls, kitchen table conversations, and online surveys, survivors will connect across gender, race and nationality.
The Survivors’ Agenda is hosting a virtual Survivors Summit from September 24-26 in order for survivors to connect, find healing and work towards creating change.
Survivor Sarah Tremblay was a Best Buy “Geek Squad” employee until 2018, when she was fired for complaining about a customer who sexually assaulted her.
In the male-dominated field of tech, women experience high rates of sexual harassment. And women working in retail tech jobs are particularly vulnerable.
Luckily, Tremblay and her fierce feminist lawyer Susan Crumiller are fighting back.
“On the Record”—which premieres on HBO Max on Wednesday, May 27—gives voice to women survivors, suggesting a pattern of predatory behavior from Def Jam co-founder Russell Simmons, who has been accused of assault by 20 different women.
“I would love to see our stories believed with the same passion and fervor that black women support and believe men when they say they have been victims of police brutality and violence.”
Knowing that an estimated four-fifths of poor Americans are unable to access the legal services they need because they can’t afford the cost, NOW and Legal Momentum have teamed up again to create the SYMS|Legal Momentum Helpline—which provides free information, assistance and referrals to women and girls facing discrimination and harassment at work, in school and at home.
