It’s now almost seven years since the US actor Alyssa Milano tweeted: “If you’ve been sexually harassed or assaulted write ‘me too’ as a reply to this tweet.” The New York activist Tarana Burke had coined the “me too” phrase in 2006 but Milano’s tweet popularised the movement and triggered a volcanic reaction, as women across the world shared their experiences of sexual harassment and assault.
#Metoo had a profound impact. Businesses made worthy announcements of new policies and initiatives. Politicians clamoured to establish inquiries then introduce policies and laws that would render women safer at work. Major changes were made to workplace laws in response to the Australian Human Rights Commission’s Respect at Work report. A movement to ban non disclosure agreements emerged.
