Tarana Burke : The lady who started the #MeToo movement long before twitter hashtag


Have you heard of #MeToo? If you're on social media, watch the news or occasionally browse the web, chances are you probably have.


In the wake of the Harvey Weinstein sexual abuse scandal, it has been virtually impossible to avoid the hashtag.


#MeToo has been tweeted millions of times - encouraging people across the world to come forward with their stories of harassment and abuse.

When she created a community initiative to connect survivors of sexual violence, Tarana Burke could never have imagined that one day it would become a global movement.

#MeToo Rising in India

India has been very vocal about the #MeToo uprising. Citing media intelligence firm Meltwater, Times of India reports that the country accounted for a quarter of online conversations on the subject in October, ahead of the US. The movement found nearly 29,000 mentions in editorial news in India, and 3.7 mentions on social media globally. Earlier, a Google Trends tool showed people across the country were searching for the speak-out hashtag, quashing claims of the movement being elitist. #MeToo has taken down several powerful men in its wake, including junior foreign minister MJ Akbar and filmmaker Sajid Khan.

The #MeToo movement, which began in the United States more than a year ago  gained traction in India late September after actress Tanushree Dutta accused Nana Patekar of inappropriate behavior on the sets of a film they were shooting in 2008.

Since then, the hashtag has became a rallying cry against sexual harassment, with multiple women coming out with their #MeToo stories. The list of some of the prominent names who have been caught in the web of #MeTooIndia allegations so far can be read here
  
Globally after the #MeToo movement, Employment lawyers and executive compensation experts say some companies have begun tweaking employment agreements with top executives, being more explicit about sexual harassment in the wording of severance arrangements or in their language about what constitutes “cause” for termination -- which can allow them to avoid paying severance or accelerating the vesting of stock when someone is shown the door.

In recognition of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, Google created Me Too Rising, a visualization of the global #MeToo movement through Google Trends data.  

On the site, you can look at global interest starting last fall and watch as consciousness spreads over time. In the past year, #MeToo has been searched in 195 countries—that's every country on earth. You can see the cities where it was trending on different dates and see what’s happening now at local levels with city-specific Google Search results for “Me Too.” And the sexual assault resources page has information for anyone who needs help or wants to learn more about sexual assault.There was an article by first post which states that  " India shines bright for the wrong reasons on Google's interactive map on #MeToo movement ".  Here is the site for reference



About Tarana Burke 
Tarana Burke (born September 12, 1973) is an African-American civil rights activist from The Bronx, New York who founded the Me Too movement. In 2006, Burke began using the phrase "Me Too" to raise awareness of the pervasiveness of sexual abuse and assault in society, and the phrase developed into a broader movement, following the 2017 use of #MeToo as a hashtag following the Harvey Weinstein sexual abuse allegations. Time named Burke, among a group of other prominent activists dubbed "the silence breakers", as the Time Person of the Year for 2017. Burke attends public speaking events across the country and is currently Senior Director at Girls for Gender Equity in Brooklyn.

Burke was born in The Bronx, New York, and raised in the area. She grew up in a low-income, working-class family in a housing project and was raped and sexually assaulted both as a child and a teenager. Her mother supported her recovery from these violent acts and encouraged her to be involved in the community. In her biography she states that these experiences inspired her to work improve the lives of girls who undergo extreme hardships. As a teenager, she became involved in working to improve the lives of young girls living in marginalized communities. Burke attended Alabama State University then transferred and graduated from Auburn University. During her time in college, she organized press conferences and protests regarding economic and racial justice.


What is Metoo campaign?
Tarana Burke, a social activist and community organizer, began using the phrase "Me Too" in 2006, on the Myspace social network as part of a campaign to promote "empowerment through empathy" among women of color who have experienced sexual abuse, particularly within underprivileged communities.

What is the #timesup movement?
Time's Up (movement) Time's Up is a movement against sexual harassment and was founded on January 1, 2018, by Hollywood celebrities in response to the Weinstein effect and #MeToo. As of February 2018, it has raised $20 million for its legal defense fund, and gathered over 200 volunteer lawyers.