The Me Too movement, as stated in the previous post, was a call for survivors to stand up and take a stand on those who had abused them. While the movement was started in 2006, it regained a new life in the wake of large Hollywood scandals, as well as front page new stories of assault.

In 2017, actress Ashley Judd broke the story to the New York times detailing the sexual abuse she experienced by Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein, a huge movie producer. Following the break of this story, hundreds of other women came forward with their stories of the abuse they experienced by Weinstein. These women include: Rose McGowan, Cara Delevingne, Salma Hayek, Angelina Jolie, Cate Blanchett, Uma Thurman, and countless others. These accusers ushered in a new era for the Me Too movement, coining the hashtag #MeToo as a way to bring back the original premise of the movement: making abusers feel strong enough to stand up in solidarity with others and share their story. Harvey Weinstein was one of the most powerful men in Hollywood, and many actresses feared what would happen to their career if they did speak up about their abuse.

The #MeToo movement was not limited to only Harvey Weinstein, but sparked a new revolution in which countless men in powerful positions were accused and taken down for sexual abuse. This included big names such as Morgan Freeman, James Franco, Casey Affleck, Louis C. K, Matt Lauer, and Bill Cosby. The #MeToo movement made victims feel as though they were vali and that the stories they had to share were worth telling. This did not translate solely to Hollywood. On a smaller scale, women felt more comfortable to acknowledge and stand up to sexual harassment in the workplace, an epidemic that affects people of all different backgrounds. Workplace sexual assault is a terrifying idea, as many believe and have lost their jobs as a result to speaking up. These movements helped validate these stories, as well as those of actresses, and provide resources to those who have been abused.

The Me Too movement has changed and evolved since its original creation in 2006, but the purpose has stayed the same. The movement helps victims of sexual abuse feel as though they can speak up and share their stories, and relate to others who have experienced similar pain within their lives.