Photo from Business Insider
by Jeffrey Escano // Staff Writer
Stand up. Raise your voice, let it be heard. Say it with authority. Let the world know. Or if on social media, spread the word. Two words are all you need to say. Me too!
Me Too, or #metoo is a social media/social movement that encourages women who are or who have been victims of sexual harassment to speak up on their experiences and seek justice. The hashtag was used over a decade earlier in 2006 by Tarana Burke, but it caught fire after usage by Alyssa Milano in October 2017. The latter made usage of the words in the wake of sexual misconduct allegations against Harvey Weinstein. Ever since then, #metoo has been used millions of times by millions of women around the world. That includes celebrities like Milano who are in the film industry.
Within the school, the reception of the movement is positive and well received.
When asked about how she feels about the movement, Carson High School senior Sarah Michelle Guei said, “I think it’s a good movement because it helps motivate women like myself to speak up about problems like rape that don’t get enough recognition.”
Carson High School junior Lizbeth Estrada feels similarly to the former interviewee.
She stated, ‘I believe that this movement is very effective because it gives women a chance to share their point of view about this situation.” Sexual harassment is not just a problem in the U.S., but worldwide. The movement over the past months has spread all over the world, with different variations of language being used, like #BlanaceTonPorc in France, #WoYeShi in China, and #QuellaVoltaChe in Italy.
“I think [rape] is a very cruel action to take upon somebody and whoever feels the need to rape someone for pleasure should seek help,” Sarah states.
The time is now. Time’s up for these criminals in the workplace, wherever that workplace is. It’s up to you young women to stand up for what’s right now and in the future.