Because stories change the world

Me, too.

These are familiar words by now. Unless you live under a rock, you’ve seen many women post these two simple words this week. Those two simple words signify that they too have experienced sexual assault or harassment.  You’ve seen friends, acquaintances, and strangers post those words on social media, and maybe they’ve shared with you in private conversation. It’s happening all over the world.

Facebook disclosed that nearly half of all its users are friends with someone who has posted those words, and that was several days ago. There have been millions of posts, in many languages.

There has been much commentary on what this movement means, and whether it will change anything. Social media moments, many have argued, are fleeting in time and light in impact.

One thing I do know, is that sharing your story is powerful. And lots of people sharing their story – well, that’s life-changing stuff.

As author and professional storyteller Michael Margolis said: “The stories we tell literally make the world. If you want to change the world, you need to change your story.”

Here are some of the week’s #MeToo stories that had us talking, thinking, and crying at Javelina HQ.

It was a tweet from singer Alyssa Milano over the weekend that sent #MeToo globally viral, but the Me Too movement was first started over ten years ago by activist Tarana Burke. Milano later tweeted the story of the woman who originally started the movement. Read her story here.

I was just made aware of an earlier #MeToo movement, and the origin story is equal parts heartbreaking and inspiring https://t.co/tABQBODscE

— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) October 16, 2017

The Daily Beast’s Olivia Messer shares how sharing your #MeToo story can be empowering and cathartic, but also really, really hard and sad.

The LA Times documents multilingual tweets from global celebrities, and how #MeToo dominated the front page of Israel’s biggest newspaper.

Ushma S. Neill shines a light on sexism in the sciences by highlighting stories shared by her scientist friends and influencers during the #MeToo movement.

Amid questions about whether the #MeToo campaign will have any lasting impact on the fear faced by women on a daily basis, men began tweeting #HowIWillChange, prompted by Australian journalist and screenwriter Benjamin Law.

Guys, it’s our turn.

After yesterday’s endless #MeToo stories of women being abused, assaulted and harassed, today we say #HowIWillChange.

— Benjamin Law ? (@mrbenjaminlaw) October 16, 2017

#MeToo certainly got the world talking this week. Keep the conversation going by telling us your thoughts on our social media pages.