How the Me Too movement affects children’s sex education
The #MeToo movement was spread virally in October 2017 soon after the sexual misconduct allegations made against Harvey Weinstein. The term was popularised by Alyssa Milano, who wanted to give people a sense of the magnitude of the widespread prevalence of sexual assault and harassment in the workplace. The movement has had many positive affects as it gives victims a sense of unity and the confidence to come forward with their own experiences in the example of other brave individuals. These confessions have made large impacts as the public takes them seriously and cases are more likely to be properly investigated, often resulting in repercussions for the assaulters. Jessicka Addams was one of the first women to speak out in the movement, writing a Facebook post that accused musician Jeordie White of rape, domestic violence, and verbal abuse. As a result of this, White was fired from his band at the time, Marilyn Manson, and faced serious repercussions for his actions. This shows that the movement has a very direct effect and can help a lot of people - not just individuals but the public as a whole as new legislations have passed in places such as America. A recent bill, for example, proposed that hotel workers in California be provided with panic buttons.
The phrase has been posted online millions of times, often with an accompanying personal story of sexual harassment or assault. The response on Twitter included high-profile posts from several celebrities, and many stories of sexual violence were shared, including from Gwyneth Paltrow, Ashley Judd, Jennifer Lawrence and Uma Thurman. Reports from such highly admired actresses inspired others to join the cause and only made the movement’s influence on the public even greater.
The movement has also made some lesser known impacts as activists have campaigned for change in many areas and awareness has increased largely. Young individuals who might have otherwise submitted to sexual abuse due to lack of knowledge around the subject or on how to deal with such advances are now more likely to be aware due to the widespread reach of the movement. The huge presence online has particularly made students pay attention. At my school, the subject has been brought up numerous times and I have been given the chance to define and express my views on the subject.
This part of everyday life is now acknowledged to a greater degree and Tarana Burke, the creator of the hashtag, advocates for sex education that teaches kids to report predatory behaviour immediately, as unfortunately not all children have the confidence or knowledge needed to report sexual assault. Sexual education can be a taboo subject in schools and although biological functions are often explained, the culture around sex is often avoided entirely as an uncomfortable subject. This movement is breaking down these barriers due to the now acknowledged presence of sexual misconduct in our society and the need to educate the younger generations on how to prevent it.