I Stand By You. #MeToo

Burke is now in the middle of working on a documentary, called “Me Too”, that is slated to come out next year. At the time, there was shock and awe, and lots of talk about how that was the turning point for both the election and gender relations. Multiple times, friends and colleagues will say the opposite of #MeToo – they will say, “Oh, I didn’t know that was abuse”. Another, more hard way to cope with being triggered by #MeToo is taking time to focus on yourself and understand that the emotions you’re experiencing, no matter how out of place or nonsensical they may feel, are not shameful or wrong. When I asked him what he was doing, he said “you are now fair game, since your husband is not here!”

Sadly, #MeToo will only scratch the surface of the number of women that have experienced sexual harassment or assault. On Facebook, there were more than 12 million posts, comments and reactions in less than 24 hours, by 4.7 million users around the world, according to the company.

Weinstein, who has denied numerous accusations, was sacked as cochairman of The Weinstein Company, and forced to resign from the company’s board of directors this week.

Italian actress Asia Argento, who has accused Weinstein of sexual abuse, offered another bombshell, saying a Hollywood director had raped her and that an Italian director had exposed himself to her when she was a minor.

Sexual harassment and assault are epidemics.

In 1986, I was pregnant with my last-born child, and a high-ranking official at my work, Ben Kapeta, said the Daily Times had received a letter to select a journalist to go to the United States to witness the elections (Ronald Reagan’s second term).

“Maybe this will be a watershed moment”. Are all of the people who are guilty of sexual harassment or who have assaulted someone really listening? Black women regularly experience sexual assault as well and are often coerced into silence.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-CA, tweeted that harassment and abuse of women won’t end unless spoken about.

Indian women have also highlighted the struggles they face after the incidents.

More than half (54 percent) of aboriginal women in Canada reported severe forms of family violence, including sexual assault, compared with 37 percent of non-aboriginal women. We’ve sadly become accustomed to this predictable and reprehensible storyline: A powerful wealthy man abuses women – with arrogance and impunity – over a period of decades. Now that we know this is the culture in which we live, how can we change it?

It’s not just A-list celebrities coming forward, Olympic gold-medalist gymnast McKayla Maroney shared that she had been repeatedly molested by Dr. Larry Nassar, the team doctor for USA Gymnastics.

I wake up every day thinking how differently a woman artist is treated at home and overseas. This is happening everywhere.

“I was raped by a stranger when I was 20 years of age when I worked and went to college in Atlanta”, she said.

Educating men so they can recognise situations that are making women uncomfortable, and how they can intervene, is important, as is providing education in workplaces and schools.

“The beauty of social media is that people have access and most importantly a platform to reach out and share their stories”.

Actress Alyssa Milano triggered the #MeToo campaign on Twitter.

While some men may feel alienated by these posts, a different trend has emerged from male friends and colleagues of the women posting about #MeToo: many men are posting using either #ItWasMe or #YesIHave. Wise up, guys. And start treating women with more respect.

Also, to no one’s surprise at this point: me too.

“People need hope and inspiration desperately”.

“What happens when these people open themselves up?” How much longer will survivors of sexual violence have to keep talking about what happened before things start to change? You are not alone, and it is OK to seek help.

Then there was the esports video producer who confessed his love for me, and told me that if he wasn’t married he’d try to get with me.