In 2006, Tarana Burke began using the slogan, “Me Too” to publicize the programs she was developing to aid those who have been victims of sexual assault and abuse. The Guardian reports Tarana Burke has not been seeking publicity for her work but has spent more than a decade fighting to create programs to aid the victims of sexual abuse and harassment. An estimated 42 million people in the US are survivors of child sexual abuse, and over 80 percent of all child sexual abuse victims are female, which makes the work of activists like Burke more important than ever.
According to The Chicago Tribune, Tarana Burke became a high profile figure after actress and fellow activist, Alyssa Milano used the “#MeToo” slogan as a way of reaching other survivors of sexual abuse. The scope of the problem is highlighted by RAINN, which reveals one in every six U.S. women has been the subject of an attempted or completed rape in their lifetime. The statistics are just as shocking when it comes to the role of children in the abuse ongoing throughout the nation. Child Protective Services have stated an estimated 63,000 U.S. children are the subject of sexual abuse each year with most victims aged between 12 and 17.
Tarana Burke continues to fight on behalf of young people across the U.S. and details a shocking experience the abuse survivor encountered during a high school program at a workshop in Alabama. The “Me Too” slogan is not only an online campaign but is used by Burke and her fellow activists as a secret message for those needing help attending workshops. At the Alabama-based workshop, Tarana Burke handed out a paper survey and told the high school-aged girls to write “Me Too” on the survey if they required assistance because of abuse. In her interview with The Guardian, Burke explained she had been expecting a handful of the girls to ask for help and was shocked when 20 of the 30 attendees wrote the slogan on their survey.
The focus of the “#MeToo” and “#TimesUp” campaign has been focused on the entertainment industry and wider media outlets but is also affecting everyday life. The statistics from RAINN are shocking, with eight percent of reported assaults taking place on school property and seven percent of all assaults taking place while a child is attending school. Tarana Burke continues to fight for abuse survivors who may not receive the attention of the global media, but are still covered by the “#MeToo” slogan created way back in 2006.
To stay up-to-date on the #MeToo movement and the current political world, make sure to tune into our Political Section. If you have any questions on how you can help in the #MeToo movement, or how you can help protect children across the globe, contact us now.
References:
The Guardian | Me Too founder Tarana Burke: `You have to use your privilege to serve other people’
Chicago Tribune | #MeToo: A timeline of events
RAINN | Scope of the Proble: Statistics
Steinger, Iscoe & Greene | Child Abuse Advocacy Support and Resources
