Trigger warning: There are sexual and violent portions of this article that may be sensitive to certain readers.
The #MeToo Movement & Women's Rights in India
By Juhi Tanniru and Zyna Shoukat, 4/9/2020
#MeToo in the West
Sexual harassment is a significant problem worldwide. However, in recent years, thanks to female-empowerment movements, certain countries have seen a decline in cases.
The #MeToo movement is at the forefront of this fight against sexual violence. The phrase "Me Too" was initially used in this context on social media in 2006 by sexual harassment survivor and activist Tarana Burke. Similar to other movements based upon breaking the silence and stigma surrounding an issue, #MeToo was initially voiced by Burke as a medium to empower women through empathy and strength in numbers by breaking the stigma and demonstrating how widespread of an issue sexual violence is.
One of the prominent grievances at the forefront of the #MeToo movement is the use of nondisclosure agreements to cover up sexual harassment, specifically by Harvey Weinstein. Zelda Perkins, Weinstein’s former assistant, signed an agreement that prevented her from telling people that Weinstein had sexually harassed her repeatedly. This legally-binding agreement kept Perkins from speaking out for almost 20 years. As her story and others came to light, it became evident that such agreements allowed wealthy and powerful people to essentially buy their victim’s silence, preventing anyone from finding out about their sexual misconduct.
As the #MeToo movement gained traction, several states began to pass laws prohibiting the use of nondisclosure agreements in sexual misconduct cases, as federal sexual harassment law and most state laws only apply to employees. That means people who are technically self-employed, from actors to Uber drivers, have little recourse if they’re harassed on a job. Moreover, millions of domestic and agricultural workers lack sexual harassment protections because they work for employers with fewer than 15 employees. New York is an example of a state that is widening its legal repercussions against sexual harassment, expanding its existing legislation to cover independent contractors in 2018 and improved protections for domestic workers in 2019. California also broadened its law in 2018 to offer protections for people harassed in a larger set of business relationships.
Although sexual harassment stories from the entertainment industry were what popularized the #MeToo movement, the prevalence of sexual harassment exists across many industries. For example, restaurant workers are often forced to put up with harassment from customers for fear that reporting the behavior or otherwise trying to put a stop to it could result in the loss of a tip, or a complaint to management. The idea behind the “tipped minimum wage,” is that servers' pay is made up entirely of gratuities — and employers are supposed to make up the difference if tips fall short of minimum wage. Thus, ending the tipped minimum wage is another necessary element in protecting restaurant servers against harassment. Seven states have done so already, and the movement has gained steam with the rise of #MeToo.
Since #MeToo entered its most public phase, allegations against legislators on both sides of the aisle have drawn attention to the issue of sexual misconduct by members of Congress. Due to outcry from the general public, Congress began to address the problem by actually taking steps to reform its workplace conduct rules by broadening its own sexual harassment policy, and reforming the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995. Monetary awards in sexual misconduct cases have risen in the #MeToo era. In 2018, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed 41 sexual harassment lawsuits, more than a 50 percent increase over 2017. The EEOC won $70 million from companies on behalf of harassment survivors in 2018, up 47 percent from 2017.
Perhaps one of the biggest effects of the #MeToo movement has been the changes in mindset stemming from showing people around the world how widespread sexual harassment, assault, and other misconduct really is. This has helped to change how many people think not just about sexual misconduct but also about gender and power dynamics in global society.
There’s much more the #MeToo movement has yet to accomplish, from changes in federal law to safety precautions for survivors who speak out. But two years after the movement began to make headlines around the country, its impact — in statehouses, in court, and in the conversations Americans are having with one another — is both undeniable and incredible.
The #MeToo movement is at the forefront of this fight against sexual violence. The phrase "Me Too" was initially used in this context on social media in 2006 by sexual harassment survivor and activist Tarana Burke. Similar to other movements based upon breaking the silence and stigma surrounding an issue, #MeToo was initially voiced by Burke as a medium to empower women through empathy and strength in numbers by breaking the stigma and demonstrating how widespread of an issue sexual violence is.
One of the prominent grievances at the forefront of the #MeToo movement is the use of nondisclosure agreements to cover up sexual harassment, specifically by Harvey Weinstein. Zelda Perkins, Weinstein’s former assistant, signed an agreement that prevented her from telling people that Weinstein had sexually harassed her repeatedly. This legally-binding agreement kept Perkins from speaking out for almost 20 years. As her story and others came to light, it became evident that such agreements allowed wealthy and powerful people to essentially buy their victim’s silence, preventing anyone from finding out about their sexual misconduct.
As the #MeToo movement gained traction, several states began to pass laws prohibiting the use of nondisclosure agreements in sexual misconduct cases, as federal sexual harassment law and most state laws only apply to employees. That means people who are technically self-employed, from actors to Uber drivers, have little recourse if they’re harassed on a job. Moreover, millions of domestic and agricultural workers lack sexual harassment protections because they work for employers with fewer than 15 employees. New York is an example of a state that is widening its legal repercussions against sexual harassment, expanding its existing legislation to cover independent contractors in 2018 and improved protections for domestic workers in 2019. California also broadened its law in 2018 to offer protections for people harassed in a larger set of business relationships.
Although sexual harassment stories from the entertainment industry were what popularized the #MeToo movement, the prevalence of sexual harassment exists across many industries. For example, restaurant workers are often forced to put up with harassment from customers for fear that reporting the behavior or otherwise trying to put a stop to it could result in the loss of a tip, or a complaint to management. The idea behind the “tipped minimum wage,” is that servers' pay is made up entirely of gratuities — and employers are supposed to make up the difference if tips fall short of minimum wage. Thus, ending the tipped minimum wage is another necessary element in protecting restaurant servers against harassment. Seven states have done so already, and the movement has gained steam with the rise of #MeToo.
Since #MeToo entered its most public phase, allegations against legislators on both sides of the aisle have drawn attention to the issue of sexual misconduct by members of Congress. Due to outcry from the general public, Congress began to address the problem by actually taking steps to reform its workplace conduct rules by broadening its own sexual harassment policy, and reforming the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995. Monetary awards in sexual misconduct cases have risen in the #MeToo era. In 2018, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed 41 sexual harassment lawsuits, more than a 50 percent increase over 2017. The EEOC won $70 million from companies on behalf of harassment survivors in 2018, up 47 percent from 2017.
Perhaps one of the biggest effects of the #MeToo movement has been the changes in mindset stemming from showing people around the world how widespread sexual harassment, assault, and other misconduct really is. This has helped to change how many people think not just about sexual misconduct but also about gender and power dynamics in global society.
There’s much more the #MeToo movement has yet to accomplish, from changes in federal law to safety precautions for survivors who speak out. But two years after the movement began to make headlines around the country, its impact — in statehouses, in court, and in the conversations Americans are having with one another — is both undeniable and incredible.
Women's Rights & #MeToo in Asia
With a population of 1.3 billion, India is known for its rich culture and deep history. However, even with a population so large, an under-representation of women remains prevalent in society. In India, women comprise a mere 29 percent of the labor force. Most of the work that women perform is informal, and thus unprotected by labor laws, and almost half of this work is unpaid (UN India: Business Forum). Indian women make up 40 percent of agricultural workers, but only 9 percent hold control of their land. With low representation in job sectors such as business and politics, there are not many areas where women can establish themselves securely in the Indian workforce. For example, almost “half of India’s women do not have a bank or savings accounts for their own use, and 60 percent of women have no valuable assets to their name” (UN India: Business Forum). This unfortunate fact demonstrates that, currently, India’s women have a minimal part in shaping both the economy and the manner in which they want to live their lives.
Cognizant of the extreme gender imbalance in the economy, the federal government of India launched a MUDRA initiative in 2015 in an effort to empower women. Through supporting micro and small businesses with direct benefit transfers sanctioned under the Jan Dhan Yojana (the governmental body that promotes financial inclusion in India), they hoped that this would encourage women to start up their own businesses. This hope translated into reality: around 78 percent of the borrowers in accordance with MUDRA were women. Moreover, the Ministry of Women and Child Development, in cooperation with the government, also created plans to significantly improve the lives of women and force them to think big in all aspects of their life. Campaigns such as the Mahila-E-Haat, Mahila Shakti Kendra, and Support to Training and Employment Programme (STEP) all aim to help women find opportunities for “skill development, employment, digital literacy, health and nutrition” (YourStory). In their own unique way, each plan offers a wide range of methods that aid women in advancing their lives. Other campaigns such as the Beti Bachao Beta Padhao Yojana, Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana, and the Working Women Hostels were created to raise awareness and improve welfare services for women and girls. Despite the massive success of these organizations and campaigns, the under-representation and low financial security of Indian women remains prevalent.
Along with the financial insecurity and under-representation, women in India face yet another atrocity: violence. In India, 53.9 percent of all crimes committed involve violence against women. In fact, in the nation’s capital itself, 92 percent of the female population have reported at least one case of sexual, physical, or verbal violence (UN India: Business Forum). Georgetown University’s Institute for Women, Peace, and Security released a report in 2019 where it ranked 167 countries based on their “Women, Peace, and Security” index. This index was formed upon three main indicators: inclusion, justice and security for women. Although India ranked 133 out of 167, events in recent years have brought to light how a large portion of women in India live in insecurity due to the abundance of sexual harassment and rape cases (YourStory).
With each case that came forward, the public took to the streets to protest for justice for its victims. The most infamous case was that of Nirbhaya. In 2012, six men gang-raped, tortured, beat and eventually murdered the 23-year old student while she was on a New Delhi bus with her male friend. As she tried to fight back, they inserted iron rods into her and pulled and ripped apart her intestines while they beat up her friend. Later, the two were thrown onto the side of the road to die. A passerby informed the police and she was taken to the hospital. Unfortunately, with the grave injuries that were inflicted upon her, she took her last breath on December 29th, 2012.
This incident was quickly brought to international attention, igniting outrage across India and around the world, where protesters flooded the streets demanding justice for “Nirbhaya,” an alias given to the student that means “fearless” (CNN). People marched the streets with candles, banners, and signs demanding justice for Nirbhaya. The six men – Ram Singh, Mukesh Singh, Vinay Gupta, Pawan Gupta, Akshay Thakur, and a juvenile – were eventually convicted by the court for their crimes. In 2013, Ram Singh committed suicide in jail and the juvenile was given a maximum of three years in a reform facility. The other four were accorded to capital punishment- death by hanging; both the Delhi High Court and Indian Supreme Court rejected their appeals and the four convicts were executed on March 20th, 2020.
Following the hanging, the country rejoiced as justice was finally served and a precedent was set for violence committed against women – Nirbhaya’s struggle became a symbol for India’s stance in protecting women from sexual violence. In India, the execution of prisoners is extremely rare, however, even Prime Minister Modi referred to the hanging of the convicts as an instance where “justice has prevailed” (India Today). In a nation where approximately 93 cases of harassment are reported each day and the rape of a woman is reported every 16 minutes, this execution and the Nirbhaya case has propelled forward the ratification of legal reforms and more severe punishments for rape (BBC).
In 2018, inspired by the movement sweeping across North America, India’s #MeToo Movement began to gain momentum as women began to come out with their experiences of sexual harassment. They brought their abusers under the spotlight by using social media as their weapon for justice. Many high-profile men, “including a government minister, the head of a popular comedy troupe and an auto industry executive” were forced to leave their positions due to their inexcusable actions (NPR). Crowds took to the streets once again in November 2019, when a 27-year old veterinarian, Priyanka Reddy, was gang-raped, murdered, and then set on fire in Hyderabad. Women demanded justice and an increase in protection from the Indian government. The rapists were later captured and killed by the Hyderabad police before any trial took place. This action brought joy and strength to many women, knowing that justice was swiftly taken.
While these large victories propelled India’s #MeToo Movement, in order for this problem to be fixed once and for all, it must also be attacked at the root. The permanent solution is to eliminate the patriarchal element in Indian society and the mindset that women are men’s property. In an attempt to begin this process, the government of India stated that they began “gender sensitization programs in schools to teach boys to learn to respect women” (BBC). By implementing this, they hope to further institute gender equality as a norm.
India is just one example. Across the world, many women live with a deep-seated fear of possibly getting drugged, catcalled, harassed, or raped. The problem isn’t the women or what they're doing, rather, it is that of society. It is the lack of holding perpetrators of sexual violence accountable for their actions no matter how high their position. It is the notion to stay quiet about harassment out of fear of being embarrassed or outcasted. The problem also lies in the system. Justice is not being given quickly, making families wait years to finally get justice so that their innocent daughter’s soul can rest in peace is an injustice in itself. The Government of India has tried to lift their women higher in many ways, but this is only the beginning. The federal government in India must continue to work harder, faster, and better to further empower and protect women, to provide them with more economic opportunities so they can establish themselves within the working force without the fear of sexual violence. By doing so, the women of India would truly become nirbhay - fearless.
*Author’s Note: Every victim of sexual harassment and rape has my upmost respect. You have a strength like no other. This article was written to raise awareness and point out how society as a whole can improve the lives of women. Each victim who was mentioned in this article is brave and I salute you.*
Cognizant of the extreme gender imbalance in the economy, the federal government of India launched a MUDRA initiative in 2015 in an effort to empower women. Through supporting micro and small businesses with direct benefit transfers sanctioned under the Jan Dhan Yojana (the governmental body that promotes financial inclusion in India), they hoped that this would encourage women to start up their own businesses. This hope translated into reality: around 78 percent of the borrowers in accordance with MUDRA were women. Moreover, the Ministry of Women and Child Development, in cooperation with the government, also created plans to significantly improve the lives of women and force them to think big in all aspects of their life. Campaigns such as the Mahila-E-Haat, Mahila Shakti Kendra, and Support to Training and Employment Programme (STEP) all aim to help women find opportunities for “skill development, employment, digital literacy, health and nutrition” (YourStory). In their own unique way, each plan offers a wide range of methods that aid women in advancing their lives. Other campaigns such as the Beti Bachao Beta Padhao Yojana, Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana, and the Working Women Hostels were created to raise awareness and improve welfare services for women and girls. Despite the massive success of these organizations and campaigns, the under-representation and low financial security of Indian women remains prevalent.
Along with the financial insecurity and under-representation, women in India face yet another atrocity: violence. In India, 53.9 percent of all crimes committed involve violence against women. In fact, in the nation’s capital itself, 92 percent of the female population have reported at least one case of sexual, physical, or verbal violence (UN India: Business Forum). Georgetown University’s Institute for Women, Peace, and Security released a report in 2019 where it ranked 167 countries based on their “Women, Peace, and Security” index. This index was formed upon three main indicators: inclusion, justice and security for women. Although India ranked 133 out of 167, events in recent years have brought to light how a large portion of women in India live in insecurity due to the abundance of sexual harassment and rape cases (YourStory).
With each case that came forward, the public took to the streets to protest for justice for its victims. The most infamous case was that of Nirbhaya. In 2012, six men gang-raped, tortured, beat and eventually murdered the 23-year old student while she was on a New Delhi bus with her male friend. As she tried to fight back, they inserted iron rods into her and pulled and ripped apart her intestines while they beat up her friend. Later, the two were thrown onto the side of the road to die. A passerby informed the police and she was taken to the hospital. Unfortunately, with the grave injuries that were inflicted upon her, she took her last breath on December 29th, 2012.
This incident was quickly brought to international attention, igniting outrage across India and around the world, where protesters flooded the streets demanding justice for “Nirbhaya,” an alias given to the student that means “fearless” (CNN). People marched the streets with candles, banners, and signs demanding justice for Nirbhaya. The six men – Ram Singh, Mukesh Singh, Vinay Gupta, Pawan Gupta, Akshay Thakur, and a juvenile – were eventually convicted by the court for their crimes. In 2013, Ram Singh committed suicide in jail and the juvenile was given a maximum of three years in a reform facility. The other four were accorded to capital punishment- death by hanging; both the Delhi High Court and Indian Supreme Court rejected their appeals and the four convicts were executed on March 20th, 2020.
Following the hanging, the country rejoiced as justice was finally served and a precedent was set for violence committed against women – Nirbhaya’s struggle became a symbol for India’s stance in protecting women from sexual violence. In India, the execution of prisoners is extremely rare, however, even Prime Minister Modi referred to the hanging of the convicts as an instance where “justice has prevailed” (India Today). In a nation where approximately 93 cases of harassment are reported each day and the rape of a woman is reported every 16 minutes, this execution and the Nirbhaya case has propelled forward the ratification of legal reforms and more severe punishments for rape (BBC).
In 2018, inspired by the movement sweeping across North America, India’s #MeToo Movement began to gain momentum as women began to come out with their experiences of sexual harassment. They brought their abusers under the spotlight by using social media as their weapon for justice. Many high-profile men, “including a government minister, the head of a popular comedy troupe and an auto industry executive” were forced to leave their positions due to their inexcusable actions (NPR). Crowds took to the streets once again in November 2019, when a 27-year old veterinarian, Priyanka Reddy, was gang-raped, murdered, and then set on fire in Hyderabad. Women demanded justice and an increase in protection from the Indian government. The rapists were later captured and killed by the Hyderabad police before any trial took place. This action brought joy and strength to many women, knowing that justice was swiftly taken.
While these large victories propelled India’s #MeToo Movement, in order for this problem to be fixed once and for all, it must also be attacked at the root. The permanent solution is to eliminate the patriarchal element in Indian society and the mindset that women are men’s property. In an attempt to begin this process, the government of India stated that they began “gender sensitization programs in schools to teach boys to learn to respect women” (BBC). By implementing this, they hope to further institute gender equality as a norm.
India is just one example. Across the world, many women live with a deep-seated fear of possibly getting drugged, catcalled, harassed, or raped. The problem isn’t the women or what they're doing, rather, it is that of society. It is the lack of holding perpetrators of sexual violence accountable for their actions no matter how high their position. It is the notion to stay quiet about harassment out of fear of being embarrassed or outcasted. The problem also lies in the system. Justice is not being given quickly, making families wait years to finally get justice so that their innocent daughter’s soul can rest in peace is an injustice in itself. The Government of India has tried to lift their women higher in many ways, but this is only the beginning. The federal government in India must continue to work harder, faster, and better to further empower and protect women, to provide them with more economic opportunities so they can establish themselves within the working force without the fear of sexual violence. By doing so, the women of India would truly become nirbhay - fearless.
*Author’s Note: Every victim of sexual harassment and rape has my upmost respect. You have a strength like no other. This article was written to raise awareness and point out how society as a whole can improve the lives of women. Each victim who was mentioned in this article is brave and I salute you.*