Top 10 pop culture moments of the decade #1: The MeToo Movement
The MeToo Movement took the world by storm, making this one of the most defining moments of the decade
Helen ZhangAn entire decade has passed and, surprisingly, we are still here. From the world ending in 2012 to fidget spinners, this decade has been filled with iconic and weird memories. In this segment, our writer reflects back on this decade and decides which pop culture moments were the most memorable or the most influential.
Content warning: this article contains mentions of sexual assault, abuse, and rape.
From Hollywood to South Korea, everyone everywhere has heard of the MeToo Movement, with people worldwide discussing sexual assault and abuse, making MeToo the most revolutionary pop-culture related movement of the decade.
The MeToo Movement was started by Tarana Burke in 2006, as a way to raise awareness behind the pervasiveness of sexual assault and abuse in our society. As a survivor of rape and sexual assault herself, Burke began using the phrase “Me Too” on social media to help other women of
However, the MeToo Movement gained speed in early 2017 after the widespread sexual-abuse allegations against Harvey Weinstein were revealed. On October 15, 2017, Alyssa Milano tweeted the phrase #MeToo and asked other women to share their own experiences. This led to other prominent actresses and actors, such as Angelina Jolie and Ashley Judd, to share their personal stories about Weinstein. This led to more allegations against many other Hollywood executives and actors/actresses. As a result, there were many high profile firings in Hollywood and an increase in media coverage behind this movement.
The MeToo went beyond Hollywood, with library workers, authors, academics, musicians, union organizer, and many others coming out with their own allegations. Eventually, this became a global phenomenon of survivors reclaiming their voice after being silenced for so long.
It’s easy to see the awe-inspiring nature of the MeToo Movement, proving that pop culture has the power to positively impact us. Despite criticisms and issues that came up, MeToo was talked about for weeks, and even now, various artwork is still being created with the MeToo Movement in mind.
Of course, there is still more work that needs to be done and this isn’t just a moment of the decade, but a movement that I hope will continue on into the new decade. Hence, why I decided to give the MeToo Movement the prestigious spot of the number 1 most defining pop-culture moment of the 2010s.
