It began with an exposé detailing numerous allegations against Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein. But soon, personal stories started pouring in from women across all industries worldwide, and the hashtag #MeToo became a rallying cry against sexual assault and harassment.
The movement gained momentum on social media after actor Alyssa Milano, a vocal critic of Weinstein, called for action: "If all the women who have been sexually harassed or assaulted wrote 'Me too' as a status, we might give people a sense of the magnitude of the problem." Within days, millions of women—and some men—used Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram to disclose the harassment and abuse they had faced. Celebrities like Björk and Olympic gymnast McKayla Maroney joined ordinary people who felt empowered to speak out. The conversation expanded beyond any single individual, becoming a broader discussion about men's behaviour towards women and power imbalances.
Mhairi Black, MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire South, described the stories as harrowing: "Even on my personal Facebook, stories are coming up, and it's 'My God, I didn't know that had happened' … It's brilliant that women are coming forward. The exact reason they're speaking out now is to ensure the next generation doesn't have to feel the same way." Nearly 68,000 people replied to Milano's tweet, and the #MeToo hashtag was used over 1 million times across the US, Europe, the Middle East, and beyond. Facebook reported that within 24 hours, 4.7 million people engaged in the #metoo conversation, generating over 12 million posts, comments, and reactions.
Caroline Criado-Perez, co-founder of The Women's Room, emphasised that the movement is about more than just Weinstein: "That's what #MeToo represents—it's happened to pretty much every woman you know. It's not just monsters; it happens in every country every day to all women, done by friends, colleagues, 'good guys' who supposedly care about feminism." The origins of #MeToo date back to activist Tarana Burke, who created the campaign as a grassroots movement to support sexual assault survivors in underprivileged communities.
The internet age has amplified these conversations, democratising feminism and enabling women to share experiences of sexual violence. Platforms like HarassMap in Egypt and hashtags such as #YesAllWomen and #BringBackOurGirls have built solidarity and kept international attention on critical issues. Criado-Perez noted, "Until the internet came along, we weren't having these conversations about everyday sexism. We shouldn't underestimate the impact of women speaking out."
