Introduction:

Me Too Movement: Me too movement is about how to help or how to prevent sexual abuse or sexual harassment with ladies at the working place and try to gives equal opportunities as men has. The Me Too movement, with variation of related local or international names, is a social movement against sexual abuse or sexual harassment where people can talk about sex crimes.

History of Me Too Movement: The #MeToo phrase was first coined in 2006 by Tarana Burke, an advocate for women in New York. Burke wanted a way to empower women as same as men who had endured sexual violence by letting them know that they are not alone. The “Me Too” movement, which focuses on the experiences of sexual violence survivors, has earned a large response in part because sexual harassment and sexual assault impact people every day.

By sharing their own experiences, the movement’s proponents make clear just how common sexual harassment is. The hope is that, if people are more aware of sexual harassment and how casually it is sometimes treated, then tolerance for it will decrease and support for victims will rise. The Me Too movement is an effort to make social change, it organised by social media where it’s expressed as #metoo. It founded in 2006, by Tarana Burke.

 The Me Too movement is primarily concerned with two types of behaviour: sexual harassment and sexual assault. Although the precise legal definitions of these terms may vary from state to state, they are generally understood as referring to specific inappropriate and unwanted sexual behaviours, especially in the workplace or at school. According to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, sexual harassment consists of “unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favours, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature.”[1]

Me Too movement in India: The Me Too movement in India is a manifestation of the international Me Too movement that began in late 2018 in areas of Indian society including the government, the media, and the Bollywood film industry. In India, the Me Too movement is seen as either an independent outgrowth influenced by the international campaign against sexual harassment of women in the workplace or an offshoot of the American “Me Too” social movement.[2]

Me Too began gaining prominence in India with the increasing popularity of the international movement, and later gathered sharp momentum in:

• October 2018 in the entertainment industry of Bollywood, centered in Mumbai when actress Tanushree Dutta accused Nana Patekar of sexual harassment.[3]

“Me Too” movement in India in last one year:

In October 2018, the global #Me Too Movement against sexual abuse and harassment perpetrated by powerful men in society reached India’s mainstream public discourse. A number of women came out with allegations and accounts of harassment on social media and other platforms. Women will no longer stay quiet or shamed. For the lower class, rural, uneducated, and disempowered women, the #Me too movement provides a little safeguard from the daily abuse and harassment. All women deserve equal access to justice and safety, but this is less likely for socially and economically marginalized women.

Cases regarding Me Too movement in India:

• In December 2018, Sajid Khan was suspended from IFTDA for one years, following the accusation of sexual assault against his from women; In October 2018 Saloni Chopra spoke about being sexually harassed by Sajid Khan. In an interview aired on youtube channel of Zoom Saloni Chopra detailed her account of sexual harassment and misconduct by Sajid Khan. She also spoke about Sajid Khan sexually harassing other women in front of her. He is yet to comment on these allegations. In wake of these allegations several bollywood bigwigs publicly distanced themselves from him. He was also replaced by Farhad Samji as Director for Housefull 4. In December 2018, the Indian Film and Television Directors Association (IFTDA) announced that it was suspending Sajid Khan for a year due to the multiple sexual harassment allegations, by actresses Saloni Chopra and Rachel White and journalist Karishma Upadhyay.[4]
• Arjun Sarja: In October 2018, Sruthi Hariharan, a major actress of Kannada cinema, revealed multiple instances of actor Arjun Sarja’s misbehavior towards her. The actress revealed that Arjun had made unwelcome advances towards her during the making of Nibunan (2017), by often changing the script to include more physically intimate scenes.[5]

Conclusion

Me Too movement is basically started for the women who suffer sexual abuse or sexual harassment. This platform gives women a right to talk about her sexual abuse or sexual harassment experience. In this platform women openly talk about her sexual harassment experience at workplaces. The phrase Me Too is still a sign of solidarity for victims of sexual harassment and assault. There is no doubt that Me Too movement has been effective in promoting in social change and gives equal opportunity.

[1]  “India’s #MeToo: Some of the sexual harassment charges that have surfaced this month”.

[1] Goel, Vindu; Venkataraman, Ayesha; Schultz, Kai (9 October 2018). “After a Long Wait, India’s #MeToo Movement Suddenly Takes Off”. The New York Times

[3] Maryville University

[4]https://www.news18.com/news/movies/metoo-film-body-suspends-sajid-khan-for-one-year-over-sexual-harassment-allegations

[5]http://origin-www.sify.com/movies/sruthi-hariharan-accuses-arjun-says-he-misbehaved-with-her-news-tamil-skupcDedjjhcb.html