Me Too: Why It Matters
Last night after a wonderful weekend of tai chi, I opened Facebook. The first post in my newsfeed said only, "Me too," but it didn't take much scrolling before I understood what it meant.
Since then, the posts I've seen have, as a whole, been both horrifying and beautiful. I sat crying this morning as I read the stories of my friends brave enough to share more than just "me too."
"Me too" is horrifying because it is universal. My friends list is made up of people of many races, religions, nationalities, political parties, and economic situations. This is not a liberal or conservative issue. It's not something that happens more to women who believe in God than those that don't or vice versa. It is not about rich or poor. So many of my friends from every walk of life typed, "me too."
But the beauty in this movement also made me cry.
The graphic design friend who created an avatar that women could use on Facebook.
The friend who told her friends that if they couldn't share on their own timelines that they could send her private messages and she would post their stories.
A friend concerned that those who had been sexually harassed or assaulted but didn't feel like they could speak up yet (for whatever reason) might feel shame. She assured them, that there was no shame and that she understood the need to share when the time was right for each individual. She let them know that she would type the words for all of us that couldn't. "Me too, me too, me too."
And then there were a couple of men who listened and offered the words we need to hear. Not blame or "not all men" or getting defensive, just "I believe you," and "I'm sorry this happened."
This conversation matters. It is not just about highlighting how big a problem this is. It's also about millions of women realizing that they are not alone, that someone understands. When we raise our voices together, it helps us reclaim our strength.
Me too.
Since then, the posts I've seen have, as a whole, been both horrifying and beautiful. I sat crying this morning as I read the stories of my friends brave enough to share more than just "me too."
"Me too" is horrifying because it is universal. My friends list is made up of people of many races, religions, nationalities, political parties, and economic situations. This is not a liberal or conservative issue. It's not something that happens more to women who believe in God than those that don't or vice versa. It is not about rich or poor. So many of my friends from every walk of life typed, "me too."
But the beauty in this movement also made me cry.
The graphic design friend who created an avatar that women could use on Facebook.
The friend who told her friends that if they couldn't share on their own timelines that they could send her private messages and she would post their stories.
A friend concerned that those who had been sexually harassed or assaulted but didn't feel like they could speak up yet (for whatever reason) might feel shame. She assured them, that there was no shame and that she understood the need to share when the time was right for each individual. She let them know that she would type the words for all of us that couldn't. "Me too, me too, me too."
And then there were a couple of men who listened and offered the words we need to hear. Not blame or "not all men" or getting defensive, just "I believe you," and "I'm sorry this happened."
This conversation matters. It is not just about highlighting how big a problem this is. It's also about millions of women realizing that they are not alone, that someone understands. When we raise our voices together, it helps us reclaim our strength.
Me too.
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