When Alyssa Milano shared a tweet encouraging victims to use the hashtag ‘Me Too’ she had no idea the sea change she would create. “I personally do not know one woman that has not faced some form of harassment, abuse or assault,” she says when asked about the reason behind the tweet.
Her aim was to raise awareness of the number of women around the world who have experienced sexual harassment. “From the moment, I sent that first tweet it was my mission to use my platform to lift Tarana Burke’s work up, but also, to see to it that meaningful change is implemented,” she says.
Burke is the founder of the Just Be Inc., a nonprofit organization that helps victims of sexual harassment and assault. She is credited for giving the worldwide movement its name - ‘Me Too’.
“This is so much more than a hashtag. It is hope. Hope that silence won’t be the norm for future generations. Hope that my children will never have to say, ‘Me Too’,” says Milano. In this interview, Milano shares the far-reaching impact of the movement and what is next for ‘Me Too’.
Michelle King: Could you share how this all began, what made you want to invite women to tell their stories using the hashtag ‘Me Too’?
Alyssa Milano: It began as a response to what was going on in my industry exposing Harvey Weinstein. The narrative was focused on the predator, the abuser and specifically, the abusers in the entertainment industry, and I wanted to shift the focus to the survivor and to really highlight that this is an issue everywhere.
People deal with inequality, harassment and assault, in many forms, across all industries. And although it’s so instrumental to the movement that women shared their heartbreaking stories and held their abusers accountable, the original intent was for women to stand in solidarity and say, ‘Me Too,’ without having to name names or tell their story. I wanted to focus on the numbers and how widespread and prevalent this issue is.
King: Why did you feel that the numbers were so important?
Milano: We really needed to do that to understand the magnitude of the issue. The night I sent the tweet, I was lying in bed with my daughter, terrified for her, that she might one day have to deal with what I’ve had to deal with in my career, and my friend Charlotte Chlymer sent me the screen grab she found on Facebook of that photo in my original tweet. I composed the tweet with that same photo and sent it. When I woke up, seven hours later, there were over 30,000 replies of the hash tag ‘Me Too.’
I was then introduced via twitter to the life changing work that Tarana Burke is doing for underrepresented and disenfranchised survivors of assault by using those same two words and... I was forever changed.
King: Did you ever think the movement would get this big? At what point did you realize it was making a real impact?
Milano: I don’t think I could have ever imagined it would become this big. I realized it was making real impact when UNICEF (I’m a goodwill ambassador) shared a story with me about a young girl in Ethiopia name Konjit who spoke out against a teacher and his misconduct.
King: How can we work to ensure that this can goes beyond a one-off movement?
Milano: We need to work together to set boundaries and be vocal about those boundaries. We need political leadership that shouldn’t include accused predators. We need to put policy in place that offers protections. We need to address the systemic inequality and injustice in the workplace. We need to lift up the voices of the disenfranchised and the underrepresented and make sure people understand we will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, inequality or assault. Personally, I am hoping this will lead to the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment or a version of it where the constitution will protect true equality for all.
King: What is your message to men? How can we include them as champions for change?
Milano: We really need men. Help us by not being a part of the mentality and culture that allows for this behavior to continue and be permissible. Don’t be a part of “locker room talk” behavior or conversations. And most importantly, hire more people who are underrepresented. Make sure the board room reflects the wonderful diversity we are as people.
King: The power of ‘Me Too’ has been women supporting women. Can you share examples of ways in which women can continue to support one another?
Milano: I think we need to try to break the habit of buying into the narrative that women are all in competition with each other. If a co-worker confides in you that she is going through any kind of harassment or misconduct at work, tell her you will go with her and support her through the reporting process. Have faith that this is not a fragile movement. That is what the patriarchy wants you to believe.
