What Does #MeToo Mean to You?
I am pleased to report my findings on my graduating research project entitled “What Does #MeToo Mean to You’, an investigation into the significance of the #metoo movement in Australian society. My research was well received, but a challenge that I experienced while researching this project was the constant bad news stories and over saturation of the topic in the media, generating #MeToo fatigue. Living in a hyper-connected, online world where we are constantly bombarded with attention-grabbing headlines, it is often the most sensationalist ones that breakthrough. Every time we read about another sexual assault, another domestic violence incident, another victim, we simply feel numb. While I believe it is vital that people speak out about sexual harassment, it seems as though every time I turn to the news, there is another sexual assault scandal, another woman having to drag her personal story through the public mud for everyone to dissect and discuss. It is difficult to determine how much the media want to shine a light on this unacceptable social problem and how much they are using salacious stories as clickbait. In addition to this, the material covered can trigger women who have experienced sexual misconduct themselves. This creates a conundrum. Sexual harassment is a complex and challenging problem that needs to be addressed, but constantly hearing about sexual assault in society is exhausting and upsetting. Thankfully the research I have conducted so far — investigating the impacts of the #MeToo movement in Australia, has generated a positive response and leaves me with a feeling of hope and repair.
Introduction
The reason for my choice of topic for this project is twofold. Firstly, from a theoretical point of view, I am interested in understanding information on the power of digital activism in our hyper-connected world and what that means for social change regarding women’s rights. Secondly, and on a more personal note, because sexual harassment overshadowed my working experience as a young woman, I want to understand whether activism can lead to lasting change. In all of my workplaces, either as a young teenage waitress or as a senior art director in the advertising industry, I experience sexual harassment and discrimination. My experience was not extreme or uncommon at the time, from the 1980s to the early 2000s (after which I left full-time employment and opted instead to work for myself). I am now a mother to three young women, and I am concerned that they may still face the challenges I faced years ago in the workplace and in society at large. My interest in the #MeToo movement is not only because I relate personally to the cause, but because I really would like to see a significant change in our world, for the sake of my daughters and society overall.
When the recent sexual assault allegations made by political staffer Brittany Higgins surfaced in Australia in February 2021, women held more power than ever before. Our society has seen immense change for women since the first wave of feminism surfaced in the late 19th century. Suffragettes demanded legal, economic, and social equality between the sexes and an end to sexism and oppression of women by men (ed. Rutland 2019, p. 14). Our current postmodern, technically advanced age has benefitted from progress in countless areas. This includes continued progress for women as a result of fourth-wave feminism, amplified by online activism (Serisier 2018, p. 5). Therefore, it is difficult to understand why women like Higgins are still battling the same concerns set out by the suffragettes.
This research project considers the effects of hashtag activism on Australian society by specifically looking at the #MeToo movement. The worldwide movement became a global reckoning of sexual harassment addressing the intolerable forces of sexual oppression. While this universal social movement has undoubtedly raised awareness of sexual harassment and gender oppression, we know little about the significance of that awareness or outcomes (if any) in terms of lasting social change in Australia. This project investigates the topic through various research forms and asks a critical exploratory question: What does #MeToo Mean to You?
Project planning and methodology
In order to allow for a more informed discussion and collect primary, qualitative research for this report, an online survey was conducted, entitled ‘What Does #MeToo Mean to You?’ The simple, online questionnaire consisted of ten relevant multiple-choice questions. The easy-to-use online platform Survey Monkey was used. The survey was aimed at a broad audience, targeting participants between the ages of 16 and 75 to represent the Australian population. It was clearly stated in all the communication that participation in the survey would be anonymous.
Findings and survey results
The objective of the survey was to investigate the significance of the #MeeToo movement (#MTM) in Australian society. The survey attracted 104 participants between the ages of 16 and 65+. The main survey results are as follows: (The full set of results may be viewed at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/stories/SM-5HRPCLFJ/ )
• participants: 78% female, 18% male, 4% other
• 92% knew of the #MTM
• 81% of participants believe the #MTM has impacted society in a positive way
• 77% believe #MTM has made people more aware of sexual harassment
• 88% believe the #MTM has empowered women to speak out against sexual harassment
• 19% think behaviours have changed since the #MeToo movement
• 45% think behaviours have somewhat changed since the #MTM
• 68% think social media can be used as a tool to generate social change
The data reveals that the #MeToo movement has positively affected Australians and has empowered women to speak out against sexual harassment. The question ‘Do you think behaviours have changed since the #MeToo movement?’ generated the most variable answers and reveals the most in terms of significance in society. Only 19% of participants believe behaviours have changed due to the #MeToo movement, whereas 81% believed the movement to be positive. This highlights a disparity between awareness and shifting societal attitudes, which impact behaviour when it comes to sexual harassment. Interestingly though, many believed social media could be part of the solution, with 68% believing it can be used as a tool to generate social change.
Significance of the results
The research in this report has ascertained that Australians know about the #MeToo movement, believe it to be positive and acknowledge its significance as a turning point in considering sexual harassment in society. Additionally, the research has found that the #MeToo movement has empowered Australian women to speak out. The social media movement has enabled personal autonomy, allowing individuals to share their stories and simultaneously find solidarity. However, it should be maintained that the main aim of re-counting these distressing stories is to draw attention to the root cause of sexual violations, namely misogyny. According to Jack Holland, the author of A Brief History of Misogyny (2006), the only way to challenge prejudice and expect behavioural change is to uncover the source (p. 271). “What history teaches us about misogyny can be summed up in four words: pervasive, persistent, pernicious and protean” (p. 270). The #MeToo movement plays a crucial role in calling out this persistent prejudice. Over time, with the support and advocacy from men and women, a collective cultural shift could come about and lead to changed behaviours and ultimately produce a more just society.
Where to for #MeToo in Australia
This report would argue that one of the reasons why the positive impact of the #MeToo movement has not transpired into behavioural change is the lack of accountability and leadership from Australia’s politicians. The topic for this report was in response to the number of sexual harassment allegations being reported in Canberra in early 2021. One such case was the sexual assault allegations made against the attorney general, Christian Porter. Porter denied the allegations and laid a legal claim against the Australian Broadcasting Corp (ABC) for defamation (Remeikis, 2021).
Australia’s restrictive defamation laws are another reason why cultural and behavioural changes have stalled since the progression of the #MeToo movement. The movement which encourages victims to speak out does not consider the lack of constitutional protection for freedom of speech in Australia, which leads to people or publications making allegations and facing threats of legal action (Babini 2021). The Porter vs ABC case settled out of court, and Porter was not subjected to an independent inquiry. However, Porter was temporarily promoted to the role of acting leader of the House of Representatives, one of the country’s most powerful positions of authority. These deliberate decisions from the national leadership do not favour survivors of sexual violence and all the Australians who ‘marched for justice’ in March 2021. (Hislop 2021). The #MeToo movement has played a pivotal role in highlighting how sexual violence is driven by gender inequality. Gender equality will transpire through cultural change, which can only be achieved through effective leadership. Leadership from Canberra is essential; it sets standards and signals the seriousness of the issue to all.
Conclusion
Sexual harassment remains a serious concern for our society and continues to disempower people, primarily women. Despite decades of anger from women regarding lack of equality, sexism and issues surrounding sex, the gender imbalance of power remains. This is visible in Australia from the lack of female participation in decision-making positions across the political, economic, and social spheres. Many believe the #MeToo movement was a ‘tipping point’, marking global transformative awareness of sexual misconduct. Moreover, the movement has encouraged solidarity amongst victims by replacing shame with empowerment. Survivors were told, for the first time, that their personal experiences would be acknowledged and mattered. The significance of this on Australian society is the focus of this research. This report has shown through a better understanding of the #MeToo movement in Australia, how this powerful platform has continued to evolve, create cultural change, and prove that it can break down deeply entrenched prejudices. What is critical, however, is for Australia’s national leaders to pave the way. Most significantly the #MeToo movement has shown that campaigns that fight sexual oppression are as critical and relevant today as they ever were.
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