Too much is too much...

Manpriya Singh

Me Too…what started with a hashtag became synonymous with an anti-harassment rally and the two words spread with a ferocity, which only social media can afford. ‘Me too’ was repeated millions of times in the past 48 hours on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, among other sites. Posted by women (and some men too) who had been a victim of sexual harassment and assault. 

Start of an era

It all started when charmed actress Alyssa Milano shared a message on her social media, “If all the women who have been sexually harassed or assaulted wrote ‘Me Too.’ as a status, we might give people a sense of the magnitude of the problem.” Her original tweet currently has more than 58,000 comments. Within no time, social media feeds were filled with an endless stream of people proclaiming ‘me too’. 

Support pours in …

The movement is just another offshoot of events that happen in the wake of Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein’s scandal. And sees women share their sexual harassment experiences via social media; experiences that unfortunately bring to the fore the magnitude of the issue - in the bus, in a tuition class, at a wedding, at a party, in the library, on phone, over a message!

Celebrities join in… 

In the wake of the movement, come millions of stories; shameful but long buried. Of all the people who stood up in support were the celebrities; each with an unfortunate story to share. 

Actress Evan Rachel Wood joined in, while highlighting just the predicament several young girls often face. “Because I was shamed and considered a “party girl” I felt I deserved it. I shouldnt have been there, I shouldn’t have been “bad” #metoo”

Ugly Betty actress America Ferrera was sexually assaulted when she was all of nine.  This is how Ferrera’s story on Instagram reads. “First time I can remember being sexually assaulted I was nine years old. I told no one and lived with the shame and guilt thinking all along that I, a nine-year-old child, was somehow responsible for the actions of a grown man. “I had to see this man on a daily basis for years to come. He would smile at me and wave, and I would hurry past him, my blood running cold, my guts carrying the burden of what only he and I knew — that he expected me to shut my mouth and smile back.”  It continues, “Ladies, let’s end this silence so the next generation of girls won’t have to live with this,” she added. Did she get it spot on? 

Girls find, support and spread your ‘me too’ friends. 

Unfortunately…

From a celeb to a student, every girl, in every nook and corner of the world, has a ‘me too’ story.  Chandigarh girl Samaira Sandhu, who’s currently based out of Mumbai and has done a couple of south-Indian films, the latest being Dhayam, opines, “We need to broaden the definition of ‘harassment’ and include not just verbal or physical but even implied torture inflicted on women in order to take advantage of them.”  She adds, having joined the rally online too, “Finally we women of today are doing something about it.” Are you too?