Me too.
Two simple words, yet such a powerful meaning.
Me too.
This past week, social media users have been seeing females- and even some males- post these two little words as Facebook statuses, as tweets, with a picture on their Instagram, etc. Why? What do these two words mean?
Me too.
This hashtag went viral after the actress Alyssa Milano tweeted it on Sunday, after all of the Harvey Weinstein rape allegations started coming to light. She further brought to everyone’s attention that Tarana Burke started this movement years and years ago.
Me too.
Everyone posting these two words has something in common. They were sexually assaulted or harassed at some point in their lives. Five years old, thirty-two years old, it doesn’t matter what age it happened. It will have a forever impact on these people. They were strong enough to publicly share that they are survivors of sexual assault or harassment. Not only did these strong women and men share that they are survivors, but some have also shared their specific stories about how they were assaulted. We hear you all and support you.
Me too.
Others are still too uncomfortable to share that they are survivors. That is okay too. These survivors do not owe anyone their story and do not have to tell anyone their story until they want to. So to the survivors out there not wanting to share their story, we hear you too.
Me too.
To all of those lucky enough to not have to post this hashtag, because you are blessed to not have been sexually assaulted or harassed, you need to be spreading awareness of how common sexual assault actually is.
Twitter reported Tuesday that since Sunday, this hashtag had been tweeted already 825,000 times. Time and time again, sexual assault is pushed under the rug because some do not want to talk about it.
Well, it is the time that we start talking.
Not just start talking, but to keep talking. Keep talking about how rape is a real problem, and it needs to stop. Keep talking about how those that were assaulted are not victims and are not to be blamed. They are survivors and are strong.
Me too.
We will not be silenced. We will continue spreading awareness. We will continue to help those that need it.
Me too.