During fall 2017, the hashtag #MeToo was posted 19 million times. People across the internet shared their own stories of sexual harm in their lives, and uplifted and supported others sharing similar experiences. As fast as the internet and news cycles moved, survivors kept standing up to speak their truth, and as a result, public attention kept focusing on sexual harm—finally demonstrating to many surprised members of the community what survivors have long known: Sexual harm is an epidemic, and it occurs anywhere sexually abusive men think they can get away with it, or are protected from real accountability.   

2017 was the first time many had heard of the #MeToo movement. Tarana Burke coined the term 11 years earlier, in 2006. It reached the masses when actor Alyssa Milano tweeted about Me Too, encouraging her followers to share to show people just how widespread sexual violence is. 

It was a season full of compelling evidence that sexually abusive men feel supported and not deterred by our culture: we all saw Donald Trump bragging about committing sexual assault, and then get elected. There was wave after wave of disclosures from survivors in the entertainment industry, who experienced violence and harassment from men like Harvey Weinstein, Kevin Spacey, Louis C.K., and many others. In December 2017, Time Magazine featured “The Silence Breakers” as the Person of the Year. Time’s Up, a defense fund dedicated to legal assistance for those who endured sexual misconduct in the workplace rose to prominence and took center stage at the 2018 Golden Globes as actresses brought activists like Tarana Burke, Mónica Ramírez, Ai-jen Poo, and others as their dates. Time’s Up, in fact, was inspired by the letter from the Alianza Nacional de Campesinas (National Alliance of Farmworker Women), which was written by long-time leaders against sexual harm, as an expression of solidarity with the women in Hollywood who were helping keep rape and sexual harassment in the public eye. 

The often-ignored issue of sexual harm finally felt recognized. So seven years later, what’s changed?  

What’s Changed and Improved 

In 2017, more eyes were on the anti-sexual violence movement than ever before, creating new allies. Kaethe Morris Hoffer, executive director of CAASE, spoke about the influx of attention in those early days leading to exciting conversations.

“The thing that was most exciting to me in that time were the collaborations and conversations that sprang up between and among folks from incredibly diverse backgrounds.  While mainstream reporting still privileges and centers the voices of white women, there was substantial evidence that people were coming together across all kinds of divisions to support our nation’s collective interest in exposing and opposing sexual harm,” Morris Hoffer said. For example, seeing highly acclaimed female actors, like Michelle Williams and Susan Sarandon, using their time in the spotlight at the Golden Globes to attend with activists like Tarana Burke and Rosa Clemente, who’ve done heroic but often uncelebrated work against sexual harm, was particularly exciting.  

“During that year, I saw people working to support and embrace survivors, and also pointing out, again and again, that sexual harm disproportionately lands on BIPOC girls and women, members of the LGBTQ community, and other marginalized groups,” she continued. “Looking back, I think those efforts laid some of the groundwork for the surge of cross-community activism focused on the criminal legal system and race inequality that erupted in 2020. But as things were unfolding, late in 2017 and early in 2018, what was most visible to me was that more light was shining on the ways in which women of color have always been leaders in the work to oppose and seek accountability for sexual harm. The letter from the Allianza de Campesinos evidenced that work and leadership, and the national appreciation for and awareness about Tarana Burke that I saw develop was beyond exciting.” 

As far back as our country’s history goes, Black women have been leaders in efforts to oppose sexual harm (see just a few in our blog, 5 Black Women Who Shaped The Anti-Sexual Harm Movement). And as people were learning how widespread sexual harm is, they were also being exposed to more information about the history of Black women’s leadership in the movement—albeit almost always because of intentional efforts among activists to give credit where it is due. On this front, there is still much progress to be made, but 2017 did help elevate, to many, the importance of recognizing and supporting the Black women who have always been central to the fight against sexual harm.  

The #MeToo movement and its centering of BIPOC survivor leaders also bolstered the conversations in 2020 on racial justice and systemic racism, after the murder by Minneapolis police of George Floyd, Morris Hoffer said. 

“Because so many conversations inside the anti-rape movement during 2017 and 2018 focused on the importance of recognizing and following the leadership of Black and other women of color, I think that our community was better equipped than it otherwise might have been, when the events of 2020 forced another national reckoning with the systemic harms inflicted by our criminal legal system on people of color, and Black people especially. Our movement, collectively, was better primed to see and celebrate and support the women of color who have always been leading efforts to expose injustice and improve our world’s equality in general,” she said. 

It’s vital that we continue to make efforts to center BIPOC voices and leadership in anti-sexual harm and not whitewash this history. It’s possible to make concurrent progress in both ending sexual harm and pursuing racial justice in America. 

Looking Ahead to More Progress 

As much as #MeToo improved our society’s understanding of and response to sexual harm, there’s so much more to be done—both to prevent future harm, and to ensure survivors have the support they need. It is still the case that many survivors are right to worry that a disclosure will be met with skepticism, shame, doubt, or outright denial. It is still the case that our criminal legal system fails most survivors who report, and it is still the case that few survivors have access to the legal counsel that can help protect their rights or access remedies that the law affords. As a culture, we need to encourage more believing and supporting survivors. When we believe and support survivors, we diminish that silence and stigma that allows sexual harm to subsist. We can make room for a future where people feel supported in their healing and equipped with resources. 

In 2017, some people were made aware for the first time anyone can be a survivor. There’s no gender, sexuality, age, or any other identity that makes someone immune from sexual harm, but there are people who are disproportionately impacted by sexual harm because of systemic inequality. Here at CAASE, we strive to center intersectionality in our work: “To create the greatest change and best support survivors, our programs seek to break down inequity and focus on those most impacted, including people who are girls and women, of color, LGBTQ+, living with disabilities, experiencing poverty, immigrants, or undocumented.”  

When we center these margins, we make progress for everyone. Support looks different for each survivor and all their unique experiences and identities. 

4 Things Everyone Can Do To Make Progress in Ending Sexual Harm 

We’ve looked back, and we’ve looked ahead. But what can we do right now in this moment to fight sexual harm?

1. Call out rape culture  

Rape culture is the culture that allows our attitudes towards rape and sexual harm to be normalized. This includes making jokes, excusing or even encouraging people who cause harm, and an overall tolerance for sexual harm. It’s pervasive and can sneak in in very small (but still harmful) ways. One way we can all make a difference in this fight is to call out rape culture when we witness it. Be intentional and mindful about the language you use. Speak out if you hear an offensive “joke.” Practice consent, not only during sex but in everyday interactions. For example, asking if you can give someone a hug, instead of assuming, or making sure others know that they can change their mind at any time, about any decision. Start critical conversations about the media you intake and how it might contribute to rape culture. 

2. Believe and support survivors 

In your own life, someone may disclose to you that they have experienced sexual harm. If you’re not sure what to say, know that you can start with “I believe you”. The Start by Believing Campaign offers simple suggestions about what to say. Even if you never find yourself in the position of a loved one disclosing an experience of sexual harm to you, it’s still impactful to be someone who makes their support of survivors known. By openly doing this, a survivor in your life may then know that you are safe. Even if they don’t disclose to you, you may have helped them feel empowered or more comfortable to one day seek out support. 

3. Call out victim blaming  

Victim blaming happens when people blame the victim/survivor for what’s happened to them instead of the perpetrator. As backward as it sounds, it still happens. For example, if you’re hearing someone talk about a celebrity case surrounding sexual harm, you might hear a sentiment like: “She made that up because she wants money and fame.” When you hear victim blaming, call it out for what it is. Explain the harm it does to not only the victim/survivor but also to other people hearing that sentiment, who may very well internalize that opinion and spread the harm.

4. Support organizations and groups working to end sexual harm 

If this is an issue you care about, and want to fight for, support organizations doing the work. CAASE is proud to provide our services, including prevention education, legal services, public policy and advocacy, and community engagement. You can support CAASE by donating, attending an event, following us and sharing our social media, subscribing to our newsletter, or starting a fundraiser. Sharing information about our services is valuable, because you never know who might need them. You could be the person who connects a survivor to the resources needed for healing.

CAASE published this piece on October 7, 2024. It was authored by Lizzy Springer and edited by Kaethe Morris Hoffer and Madeleine Behr. Learn more about our staff here.