LIFETIME (2:46) – Aly Raisman and Tarana Burke, founder of the #MeToo movement, discuss the original of #MeToo.
Duty to Live in the Light
“Everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for everything that becomes visible is light.”
4th Sunday of Lent (A)
Ephesians 5:8-14 calls for believers to live as children of the light, which means rejecting the darkness of sin and evil deeds that are done in secret. This could be applied to the #MeToo social movement, where many victims of sexual abuse, sexual, and rape culture have suffered in silence for too long. The movement encourages them to speak out and expose the darkness of their experiences, bringing them to light and holding perpetrators accountable. This can bring healing, justice, and a new revelation of what pleases the Lord, who loves justice and mercy.
Tarana Burke, the founder of the Me Too movement, talks about how the idea for the movement came about. She shares a story of a little girl named Heaven who inspired her to come up with the concept of the movement. Tarana also talks about her personal experience and how she had to confront her own trauma to be able to start the movement. She believes that telling your story to yourself is the most important step in healing and encourages survivors to do so. Finally, she reveals that she wrote “Me Too” on a notebook after expelling her trauma and that’s how the movement got its name.
But it is not enough to simply avoid participating in such actions ourselves. We must also work to expose them. Paul says that everything exposed by the light becomes visible – and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. In other words, when we shine a light on the dark deeds of sexual harassment and assault, we bring them out of the shadows and into the open. We expose them for what they really are, and we create a space for healing, justice, and prevention.
The #MeToo movement is a powerful manifestation of this kind of exposure. By sharing their stories and bringing their experiences to light, survivors of sexual harassment and assault are breaking the silence that has kept these issues hidden for so long. They are becoming a light, illuminating the darkness of a culture that has too often tolerated and even celebrated abusive behavior.
As Christians, we have a responsibility to stand with those who have been victimized by sexual harassment and assault. We must listen to their stories with compassion and empathy, and we must work to create spaces where they can feel safe and supported. We must also hold perpetrators accountable for their actions, and we must do what we can to prevent such actions from happening in the future.
Prevention is an important part of this work, and it is here that the message of Ephesians 5:8-14 offers some guidance. Paul says that we should find out what pleases the Lord – in other words, we should seek to align our actions with God’s will. When it comes to preventing sexual harassment and assault, I believe that this means cultivating healthy relationships and respectful boundaries, as well as educating ourselves on the impact of power dynamics and societal norms on our interactions.
For example, many of the issues that have been brought to light by the #MeToo movement stem from a culture of entitlement and objectification, where men feel entitled to women’s bodies and women are seen primarily as objects of sexual desire. As Christians, we must reject this culture and work to create a more holistic and respectful vision of human relationships.
This can be a challenging task, but it is a necessary one if we are to embody the message of Ephesians 5:8-14 in our lives. By working to prevent sexual harassment and assault, we can create a world where all people are treated with dignity and respect. We can create a world where survivors are believed and supported, and where perpetrators are held accountable for their actions. We can create a world where the light of God’s love shines brightly, illuminating even the darkest corners of human experience.
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MARIE CLAIRE (3:57) – Girls experience sexism long before they reach the workforce.
“Growing Up in the #MeToo movement” is a powerful video featuring a group of young girls discussing the challenges they face due to their gender. They share stories of discrimination, harassment, and bullying, and highlight the importance of respecting others and being kind. They urge boys and men to be more aware of the impact of their actions and words and encourage fathers to teach their sons to respect and care for women and girls. This video serves as a reminder that we need to create a world where everyone feels valued and respected regardless of their gender.
