2 of 14

About The Me Too Movement

The ' Me too ' campaign was created in 2006 to support sexual violence survivors, especially black women and girls, and other ethnic young women from low-wealth neighborhoods, find routes to recovery. From the beginning, their goal was to tackle both the shortage of support for sexual violence survivors and build a network of victim-driven activists who will be at the frontline of finding ways to disrupt sexual violence in their neighborhoods.

In less than six months, a vital conversation about sexual violence has been pushed into the national debate, due to the viral #metoo hashtag. What began as small advocacy research has grown to touch a national victim group from all areas of life and helped de-stigmatize the recovery act by exposing the scope and effect of systemic sexual violence.

3 of 14

About “The Me Too Movement” Cont

Their work continues to focus on supporting those who need support to identify access points for interpersonal recovery and motivate a wide base of survivors to challenge the systems that allow sexual violence to grow out of control globally.

Their aim is also to redefine and enhance the worldwide sexual violence discussion to address the needs of a wider range of survivors. Youth, queer people, trans people, people with disabilities, boys/men, indigenous people, and all ethnic groups. They want to keep the offenders responsible and policies introduced to achieve structural, long-term progress.

4 of 14

The ' me too ' campaign helps sexual violence survivors and their supporters by linking survivors to services, providing resources for community organizing, creating a policy agenda for ' me too ' and recruiting scholars and experts on sexual violence. ' Me Too ' campaign project is a combination of community organizations aiming at interrupting sexual violence and creating new platforms that link survivors to support.

Through empathy and community-based action, the ' me too ' movement affirms empowerment, the research is driven by survivors and tailored to the needs of the various communities.

Tarana Burke started ' me too ' with young black females from neighborhoods of low wealth. She created a cultural lesson plan to talk about sexual violence within the African American community and across society.

5 of 14

Likewise, the ' me too ' campaign aims to support people operating within their neighbourhoods to meet their community/communities' specific needs, i.e. helping color-working marginalised trans members to organise and design events/toolkits / etc.

To create a worldwide movement to stop sexual violence, they will empower and help one another.

Girls for Gender Equity (GGE) is the strategic beneficiary of the ' me too ' campaign, which earns tax-deductible charitable donations to support and use the ' me too ' services of the campaign. GGE is a New York-based, non-profit-benefit company located in Brooklyn, NY.

Dastagir, A. E. (2019, October 28). It's been two years since the #MeToo movement exploded. Now what? Retrieved January 29, 2020, from https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/09/30/me-too-movement-women-sexual-assault-harvey-weinstein-brett-kavanaugh/1966463001/

6 of 14

Founder of “The Me Too” Movement Tarana Burk

Tarana J. Burke has worked for nearly three decades at the crossroads between racial justice and gender equity. Encouraged by a commitment to interrupt sexual violence and other systemic issues that affect marginalised people, particularly black women and girls- Tarana developed and directed rallies which brought awareness of the negative legacies surrounding colour communities. Her advocacy to eliminate sexual violence has revealed the unpleasant truths of sexism and speaks truth to power, but has also increased availability to survivors ' resources and support, and provided a path for all to take a position in the campaign.

Once ' me too ' went viral in 2017 as a hashtag (#metoo), Tarana appeared as a world leader in the growing discussion around sexual violence. She placed the light back on survivors and the need for survivor-centric, survivor-led approaches.

7 of 14

Founder of “The Me Too” Movement Tarana Burk Cont

Her empowering philosophy of empathy is transforming the world's way of thinking and learning about sexual violence, consent, and body autonomy. Tarana used her platform to spread her long-established faith that recovery is not a reward but a path that has touched and inspired millions of survivors who have previously lived in silence with the agony, guilt, and suffering of their encounter.

Her relentless engagement led her to win numerous awards including the 2017 TIME Person of the Year, the 2019 Sydney Peace Prize, among many other recognitions and awards.

8 of 14

“Me Too Movement” Videos!

9 of 14

https://metoomvmt.org/

10 of 14

Type of Advocacy is “Me Too”

Individual advocacy is one-on-one support provided to a person to prevent or address instances of unfair treatment or abuse. Individual advocacy helps make sure the voice of the person is heard on a particular issue that matters to them. Individual advocacy supports people to express their views and concerns, access information and services, and explore choices and options.

In the beginning Tarana Burke started off as being a Child & Youth Care counselor for young girls in her community, helping them find resources for their healing process, to gain courage to speak to authority, and their guardians. After realizing majority of the issues disclosed to her were about sexual violence/sexual harassment, she decided to take steps further to begin her own campaign.

Systemic advocacy seeks to influence and change a 'system' such as legislation, government policy and community attitudes.

Once Tarana Burke’s “Me Too” movement went viral and became a global campaign, her work within the community expanded worldwide. Doing Marches, speeches, interviews, and building toolkits for sexual assault victims around the world. With the support of many hollywood stars, and those in the communities Tarana Burke has put pressures on the government to change their laws to support, better protect sexual assault survivors, and making sure perpetrators are held responsible.

11 of 14

Relevance to Children & Youth or Child & Youth Care Practice

The idea of “Me Too” came from Tarana Burke wanting to help a wider range of sexual violence survivors. Specifically young black girls from low wage communities and families.
Tarana Burke used her Child & Youth Care practices to help youth within her community feel comfortable to disclose their problems to her.
She built therapeutic relationships with the youth she worked with
She made sure was the adult to give these youth hope, encouragement, and help if they couldn't find it anywhere else
She focused on the needs of the youth she worked with
The “Me Too” Movement receives thank you’s daily from people who are survivors or supporters around the world via email, letters, twitter, instagram, facebook, etc
Tarana Burke & her staff continue to mentor, counsel, and interview within communities around the world
“Me Too” is a phrase used to let survivors know they are heard, appreciated, courageous, and not alone

12 of 14

Connection to the Response to Abuse course content specifically

Since going viral “Me Too” founder Tarana Burke & her staff have traveled across the globe to educate people about sexual violence. What it could look like, how to support survivors, how to find resources, the severe effects on youth health and who to go to reach out to.
Tarana Burke educates the importance of advocacy through her own actions and through her speeches.
“Me Too” brings awareness about how common sexual violence is amongst many different ethnic groups.
“Me Too” helps build opportunity for survivors to take their dignity, courage, and control of their lives back.
“Me Too” helps those who want to be involved build resilience through participating in rallies, community work, building toolkits, and recruiting researchers.

“Me Too” has a connection to the course “Response to Abuse” because like this class we are educating ourselves and others of the serious harm youth face within daily life. Professors are teaching us Trauma Informed Practice and “Me Too” has put this practice into action within communities around the world. Tarana Burke has continuously advocated for youth of many colors and backgrounds, which is promoted within this course. Furthermore, She has helped millions of survivors gain the courage to speak their truths, and begin the healing process. Which within Child and Youth Care Practice, we are taught to encourage our clients we work with to no longer put the blame on themselves, to find healthy coping strategies, and know that someone believes them. “Me Too” also does not discriminate against males or the LGBTQ community either, they are willing to help and work with any and everyone wanting to be heard. Child & Youth Care Practice revolves around helping all kinds of humans from all walks of life. This movement has made many people uncomfortable, specifically men/boys because of how many survivors have spoken up against their perpetrators and in Child & Youth Care we also tend to make situations uncomfortable for those who need to face accountability. Child & Youth Care Workers are advocates as well.

13 of 14

What type of abuse does this advocacy initiative address?

Sexual Abuse/Sexual Harassment

How to get involved?

Through the website (send a email for press inquiries, to get “Me Too” to speak at events, donate, or find resources near you to find healing, &/or advocate).
Social Media (Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter).

14 of 14

References

Bee, S. (2019, November 26). After #MeToo Pt 1: Sam Bee and Tarana Burke Talk Past, Present, & Future of #MeToo | TBS. Retrieved January 29, 2020, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rD9Cxvh1ZpY&list=WL&index=2&t=0s

Economist , T. (2018, November 21). #Metoo: how it's changing the world | The Economist. Retrieved January 29, 2020, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATYK2svJ6eM&list=WL&index=8&t=0s

Individual Advocacy. (n.d.). Retrieved January 29, 2020, from https://www.valid.org.au/get-help

Insider, B. (2017, December 13). Tarana Burke On How The #MeToo Movement Started And Where It’s Headed. Retrieved January 29, 2020, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1Rb7TGgsp4&list=WL&index=5&t=0s

Me too. Movement. (2018, January 1). Retrieved January 29, 2020, from https://metoomvmt.org/

Me Too is a movement, not a moment | Tarana Burke. (2019, January 4). Retrieved January 29, 2020, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zP3LaAYzA3Q&list=WL&index=4&t=0s

Systemic Advocacy. (n.d.). Retrieved January 29, 2020, from https://www.cyda.org.au/systemicadvocacy