The #MeToo movement was the brainchild of Tarana Burke back in 2006. As a sexual violence survivor, Burke had first hand knowledge of the pain, loneliness and feeling of helplessness from such incidences. She needed survivors/victims to know that they were not alone. Indeed many other women have gone through the same experiences.
Yet, it wasn’t until 2017 that the hashtag took off, thanks to the actress Alyssa Milano. The #MeToo on her social media platforms increased its popularity. Within two days, Twitter had over 1 million hits in the use of the hashtag. On Facebook, there were 12 million posts shared by 4.7 million people in over 85 countries within 24 hours.
One impact of the #MeToo movement has been breaking the silence around sex crimes. Survivors are now more open to speaking up. They are also seeking the services of sexual crimes lawyers to fight for justice.
Our article explores the impact of the #MeToo movement. We also look at changing societal attitudes towards sexual misconduct in sex crime cases.
Impact of the #MeToo movement on sex crime reporting
The #MeToo movement has had a profound impact on sex crime reporting. Survivors can now speak up without fearing public ridicule or scorn.
Indeed if you are a victim or survivor, there are steps you need to take. The first is to get the best team of assault defense lawyers on your team. The lawyers will investigate the case. They will also play a huge role in prosecuting the perpetrator.
When it comes to sex crime reporting, survivors face many issues. Issues that the #MeToo movement has managed to address include the following:
- Fear of stigmatization that comes with speaking about sexual violence or abuse
- Lack of understanding of sexual violence
- Lack of compassion for survivors
- Outdated policies and laws that worked against survivors. The movement has led to significant changes. One is the banning of non-disclosure agreements in some states. There has also been an expansion of work sexual harassment laws. It now includes contractors, and domestic workers, to name a few. Some of the forerunners are New York and California. In the latter, sexual harassment covers even those in business relationships. A good example would be protection against sexual harassment by producers.
- Fear of going after people of influence. Breaking the silence has led to convictions on sexual assault charges. These include Harvey Weinstein, Bill Cosby, and R Kelly.
- Fear of retaliation, especially for sexual assault workplace cases. Due to the movement, there are new legal standards by the ILO.
- Lack of finances to hire sexual crime lawyers when seeking justice. The Time’s Up Legal Defense Fund has been a godsend to survivors. It has paid for legal representations for victims of sexual assault cases.
A Yale report shares insights on sexual crime reporting after the #MeToo movement. Two doctoral candidates carried out the research, and their findings include the following:
- A 7% increase from October to December 2017 in sex crime reporting in the US. This translates to 4,600 more crimes.
- There were no socio-economic or racial differences in the reporting groups.
- Within three months of the hashtag explosion, there was a 14% increase in sex crime reports. That translates to an extra 11,600 such cases.
What makes the #MeToo movement more fascinating is its area of focus. Many would think that it is all about sexual assault punishment. But, as per the research, the aim is to change behavior and social norms. By victims speaking up, perpetrators will be more accountable for their inappropriate behavior.
Finally, the #MeToo movement has shown the prevalence of sexual harassment cases worldwide. And it extends beyond the actual victims. Now everyone is more aware of the impact of sex crimes and how it affects victims and those close to them.
Challenges facing the #MeToo movement
The #MeToo movement has resulted in significant changes around sex crimes. But there are some challenges that present to date. These challenges include the following:
False allegations
Some quarters are saying victims may have ulterior motives when speaking out. Like victims, those facing false allegations need a sex crime attorney. If it is true someone is making false allegations, the lawyers will do what they can to uncover the truth. And that involves a proper investigation to determine the merits of the case.
Fear of retaliation
There is the fear of retaliation. this is especially true for sexual assault harassment cases involving the workplace. There is the possibility of demotions, job loss, or worse assignments for those who dare to speak up. Retaliation cases are some of the most common cases sexual crimes lawyers deal with.
Victim shaming
Victim shaming and discrediting continue to exist. Sexual crimes lawyers have lost cases because victims can’t stand up to scrutiny. Take the case of Andrea Constand vs. Bill Cosby. The Cosby defense team tried to paint Andrea as a con artist whose aim was to get money.
Non-disclosure agreements
Despite changes in workplace policies, some employers still coerce workers to sign NDAs. That means sexual harassment crimes may still be happening. But the perpetrators get the cover of the NDAs. Take the example of Zelda Perkins vs. Harvey Weinstein. Due to an NDA, she could not speak out against the abuse for 20 years. But now several states including New Jersey, California and New York have banned such agreements.
Skeptics
Skeptics are quick to point out that the #MeToo movement may be ruining lives. There now seems to be some kind of political pressure for victims to speak out. This has resulted in tension between victims and the criminal system.
Final Thoughts
The #MeToo movement may be one of the best case studies of the power of social media. With a simple hashtag, Alyssa Milano gave voice to what Tarana Burke started a few years back.
But beyond that is the potency of victim support in getting them to speak up. There has been a significant power shift from victimizer to victim. The same applies to a societal paradigm shift in attitudes toward sexual misconduct and sex crime cases.
Sexual harassment crimes are not the victims’ fault. And by speaking up, the perpetrators will have nowhere to run. Increased reporting of sex crimes may be the solution to ending or reducing such ugly incidences.
Finally, if you find yourself facing a sex crime case, seek the services of reputable sexual crimes lawyers. As a victim, they can help you get some justice. If you are facing false allegations, the attorneys will fight for you.
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