Tarana Burke, the woman behind ‘Me Too’ knew the power of the phrase when she created it 10 years ago. Before #metoo went viral, she was using “me too” to reach women of color who survived sexual violence.
And, it is important to remember that harassment comes in forms in addition to than sexual harassment. Anyone who is targeted should join the Me Too movement. There is no doubt strength in numbers, as uncovered in Lindy West’s Op-Ed piece, should encourage executives and boards to become even more aware of and sensitive to the issue. Now is a golden opportunity for a flood of harassment to get flushed out.
As I wrote in one of my blogs, the issues of sexual harassment are prevalent amongst men as well. Everyone needs to step out and allow his or her voice to be heard. In her recent Op-Ed article, Margaret Renkl describes just how effectively movements succeed when the number of activists increases.
This is already beginning to happen as evidenced in the New York Times article by Adam Nagourney and Jennifer Medina, showing that 140 women have already come forward in California alone!
In another New York Times article by Emily Steel and Michael S. Schmidt, Fox News demonstrated just how disingenuous the Murdock’s were and still are. The fact that Fox News did not deal with O’Reilly at the same time they dealt with Roger Ailes begs the question – why should we believe them now? Miraculously, he was fired, but only after more previously known and covered up incidents were revealed. Fox’s words ring hollow for most women, who were too afraid to come forward after O’Reilly’s contract renewal.
In my book, From Bully to Bull’s-Eye: Move Your Organization Out of the Line of Fire, I discuss the importance of the bystander becoming an activist. The time is ripe for all harassed people to step forward and expose these predators for who they are.