Abstract
This chapter applies framing to the #MeToo movement to better understand the ways in which the #MeToo frame creates meanings and influences certain perspectives and actions regarding the issue of sexual assault. A “frame” is a “central organizing idea” that provides meaning to and generally guides how issues are understood. As people are increasingly living online and using mobile devices, social media has become a predominant way for people to express themselves, interact with others, and learn what is going on in the world. In the Fall of 2017 millions of social media users affixed the phrase #MeToo to their experiences of being sexually assaulted and harassed. The collection of responses spurred a cultural movement that has illuminated the universality of sexual assault and harassment. The #MeToo movement has encouraged victims to break their silence about the abuse they have suffered. Social media empowers individuals by giving them a voice. It provides a forum where people can disclose their sexual assault, connect with allies, and secure resources. Unintended consequences of the #MeToo movement are discussed with regard to their impact on politics, identity, policy, and gender relations Social media is discussed in terms of its potential advantages and risks as a justice-seeking tool.
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Notes
- 1.
Other social media platforms are for photo messaging (e.g., Snapchat); video calling (e.g., Skype); gaming in a multiplayer virtual world (e.g., Fortnite) or dating (e.g., Match, Tinder, Bumble).
- 2.
A twitter “handle” is the users identifying name. Using the @ symbol and the Twitter user’s name sends messages directly to that user’s Twitter feed (or collection of messages).
- 3.
Reddit content is organized within areas of interest called “subreddits” or “subs” for short. Users vote on content which then moves it toward the top or bottom of a subreddit feed.
- 4.
To learn more about JustBeInc see: https://justbeinc.wixsite.com/justbeinc/purpose-mission-and-vision
- 5.
The study noted that usage surged around news events with the most posts in September 9, 2018, when CBS CEO Leslie Moonves resigned after allegations of sexual assault followed by Harvey Weinstein’s resignation from the board of his entertainment company on October 17, 2017 (Anderson & Toor, 2018).
- 6.
Related ideas can be found in Bartlett’s (1932) research on the schematic nature of perception and Tajfel’s (1969)
cognitive determinants of social interaction.
- 7.
On October 18, 2017, gymnast McKayla Maroney tweeted she had been sexually assaulted by Larry Nassar, the doctor for the US female Olympic gymnastics team.
- 8.
Pew researchers used a “Botometer” algorithm to identify bot accounts.
- 9.
The suit is still pending at the time of writing.
- 10.
Complainants file a false allegation out of material gain, emotional gain, or a disturbed mental state. The list can be subdivided into eight different categories: material gain, alibi, revenge, sympathy, attention, a disturbed mental state, relabeling, or regret.
- 11.
Turvey, Savino, and Mares (2017) quotes a study by researcher Edward Greer, past president of the Association American Law Schools. Greer traced the one and only source for the “2%” statistic to Susan Brownmiller’s (1975) book, “Against Our Will: Men, Women and Rape.” Brownmiller cited findings by female police officers in a New York City rape squad. Their methods are unknown and the finding was never verified.
- 12.
Consensual sex work is not to be confused with sex trafficking when people are forced into sex work by violence, threats or other forms of coercion.
- 13.
Krebs noted that the response rate was 42% and there was no way to know if there was response bias, if victims of sexual assault were more likely to participate in the study or not (Krebs & Lindquist, 2014).
- 14.
An activist organization, One in Four, takes its name from the finding.
- 15.
Iyengar’s comments are from an interview with the FrameWorks institute about his work on framing in the
media.
- 16.
More information about Save Our Sons can be found at https://helpsaveoursons.com/
- 17.
The first to call Damon out was ex-girlfriend Minnie Driver, his and co-star in their 1997 film Good Will Hunting. After more than a year of dating, Driver learned that the two were no longer a couple from when Matt Damon in an appearance on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” told Oprah that he was single. A construct coined by Greg Matoesian (1995), “the patriarchal logic of sexual rationality” in his analysis of the William Kennedy Smith trial describes a strategy employed by Kennedy’s lawyer with the premise that women who are rejected allege rape for revenge.
- 18.
The guidance would, among other things, require all colleges provide a confidential adviser to guide victims through the entire process of bringing an accusation while no guidance or assistance is mandated for the accused.
- 19.
To learn more about TIME’S UP refer to this link: https://www.timesupnow.com/about_times_up
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McDonald, A.F. (2019). Framing #MeToo: Assessing the Power and Unintended Consequences of a Social Media Movement to Address Sexual Assault. In: O’Donohue, W.T., Schewe, P.A. (eds) Handbook of Sexual Assault and Sexual Assault Prevention. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-23645-8_6
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