THE #MeToo hashtag has gone viral in the Malaysian Twittersphere, with many joining in to recount their experience of sexual harassment and assault, underscoring the reality of an often hushed-up subject.
The hashtag was started on Twitter by American actress Alyssa Milano, who asked people to respond with a simple “me too” if they had been sexually harassed or assaulted.
Her tweet has garnered 53,000 replies, 19,000 retweets and 39,000 likes. The hashtag #MeToo is still trending at the time of writing.
Many personal stories shared highlighted how catcalling, molestation, abuse and even rape are a reality in women’s, and some men’s, lives.
Malaysians, too, have come forward to share their stories using the #MeToo hashtag.
#MeToo : Age 13 - it started with a flasher exposing his privates, then being groped in crowded places, Adult - verbal harassment at work
— Sasibai Kimis (@sasibai) October 16, 2017
#MeToo
— Nadia Ramlan (@Oniwanbashu) October 16, 2017
Stone’s throw away from the holiest site of my religion. It happens anywhere. I was 14. Confused and embarrassed then, angry now.
i was molested by own neighbors' son, and it scarred me for life. mum knew. but she acts like nothing happened #MeToo
— (@1frhfdzl) October 16, 2017
#metoo
— Shanee K (@ShaneeKay) October 16, 2017
Molested age 5-7 by a person trusted by family
Groped, as a teen by a “friend”
Molested in 20s by complete stranger
#MeToo. When I was working in the film industry. AD grabbed my hand and leaned in for a kiss. Completely unprovoked. I was shocked
— darna aminuddin (@darna_barna) October 16, 2017
When you thought it wouldn’t come from a woman, to another woman. When you thought it was merely words.
It did. It hurt more. #MeToo— Joelle Chew (@JoelleChew) October 16, 2017
The #MeToo movement comes on the heels of Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein’s scandal involving multiple allegations of sexual assault.
In Malaysia, there are no specific laws against sexual harassment, although Section 509 of the Penal Code covers “words or gestures intended to insult the modesty of a person”.
For Twitter user Elmira A (@blissthekat), the experience was too painful to share, writing:
I don’t want to go into details, but #metoo.
— Elmira A. (@blissthekat) October 16, 2017
Similarly, NushiSushi (@AnuNushi) tweeted:
#MeToo Just because I don’t elaborate, doesn’t mean it didn’t happen. Innocence lost at a young age is not fun. #dontrobchildhood
— NushiSushi (@AnuNushi) October 17, 2017
Comic artist Weinye (@itsweinye) said she had too many stories, and expressed concerned that women were becoming desensitised to the problem.
The thing that makes me sad is that I have girl friends who are so disensitized to harassment that they don’t even have the energy to do anything about it #MeToo
— Weinye (@itsweinye) October 16, 2017
Others came through with solidarity and advice.
I say #metoo not only for myself but every man or woman who can’t for themselves
— Just Shobs (@shobayyamani) October 16, 2017
NEVER let yourself be silenced by anyone - HR, colleagues, bosses, friends - if you’re being sexually harassed. I don’t. #MeToo
— Kudsia Kahar (@Kudsia_Kahar) October 16, 2017
– October 17, 2017.
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