Pre-#MeToo movements against sexual violence
Long before #MeToo, these campaigns led by women shed light on the global sexual assault epidemic.
These campaigns against gender-based violence pre- #MeToo
In Latin America, South Africa and India, the #MeToo wave was not expected to report harassment, assault and sexual crimes. Everyone is aware of the #MeToo movement, a collection of complaints of harassment, assault and sexual crimes against women. It started in 2017, after the first revelations about the actions of Harvey Weinstein. But by 2009, similar initiatives had already started to see the light of day. Here are several.
The “hooks” of Brazil
From 2015 onwards, we began to see the emergence in Latin America of what are called “swindles”, public campaigns to denounce gender violence. It all started in Brazil, with the hashtag # MeuPrimeiroAsséido, "my first harassment".
Think Olga, an NGO that defends women's rights, launched an online campaign after a 12-year-old child who participated in MasterChef Junior received abusive tweets inciting child pornography and comparing her to pornographic actresses. Thousands of women and girls then shared their stories of harassment and assault, using the hashtag as a sign of solidarity. It was eventually translated into Spanish and spread throughout Latin America.
EndRapeCulture in South Africa
Launched by female students, the campaign denounced the culture of rape within universities. Sexual assailants and criminals who have never been punished have been singled out. #EndRapeCulture has forced universities across the country to appoint task forces to tackle sexual violence on campus.
PinkChaddi in India
The main objective of #PinkChaddi was to fight the morality police and respond to gender violence. It is considered a Gandhian way of protesting against the repressive right wing, masculinist nationalist ideology of the Sri Ram Sena (henceforth referred to as SRS) by dispatching as close to 4000 titular item, that is pink chaddis (underwear) to their head office.
Brut.
These campaigns against gender-based violence pre- #MeToo
In Latin America, South Africa and India, the #MeToo wave was not expected to report harassment, assault and sexual crimes. Everyone is aware of the #MeToo movement, a collection of complaints of harassment, assault and sexual crimes against women. It started in 2017, after the first revelations about the actions of Harvey Weinstein. But by 2009, similar initiatives had already started to see the light of day. Here are several.
The “hooks” of Brazil
From 2015 onwards, we began to see the emergence in Latin America of what are called “swindles”, public campaigns to denounce gender violence. It all started in Brazil, with the hashtag # MeuPrimeiroAsséido, "my first harassment".
Think Olga, an NGO that defends women's rights, launched an online campaign after a 12-year-old child who participated in MasterChef Junior received abusive tweets inciting child pornography and comparing her to pornographic actresses. Thousands of women and girls then shared their stories of harassment and assault, using the hashtag as a sign of solidarity. It was eventually translated into Spanish and spread throughout Latin America.
EndRapeCulture in South Africa
Launched by female students, the campaign denounced the culture of rape within universities. Sexual assailants and criminals who have never been punished have been singled out. #EndRapeCulture has forced universities across the country to appoint task forces to tackle sexual violence on campus.
PinkChaddi in India
The main objective of #PinkChaddi was to fight the morality police and respond to gender violence. It is considered a Gandhian way of protesting against the repressive right wing, masculinist nationalist ideology of the Sri Ram Sena (henceforth referred to as SRS) by dispatching as close to 4000 titular item, that is pink chaddis (underwear) to their head office.
Brut.