A Qualitative Analysis of the #MeToo Online Sphere

Abstract

#MeToo ‘went viral’ in 2017 as a way for survivors of sexual victimisation to share their experience and raise awareness of sexual victimisation. How #MeToo impacted the wellbeing of individuals has yet to be examined qualitatively. The current study describes survivors' perceptions about the impacts of #MeToo. Qualitative interviews were conducted with 51 participants with histories of sexual victimisation who either disclosed (n = 37 [20 in person, 17 online and in person]) or did not disclose (n = 14); Mage = 29.6 (SD = 7.92) years old, cisgender female (82.4%), non-White (22.3%) and heterosexual (48.9%). Thematic analysis revealed both positive and negative perceived impacts of the #MeToo online sphere in accordance with the social-ecological model. Results are categorised into the following groups: Individual level factors: (1) increased awareness of prevalence, and (2) lack of belonging; Interpersonal level factors: (3) facilitation of conversations, and (4) negative conversations about sexual victimisation; Community level factors: (5) increased feeling of community, connection and empowerment; and Policy level factors: (6) need for access to more tangible resources, and (7) backlash of #MeToo. No themes fell in the ‘Institutional level factors’ group of the SEM model. How #MeToo impacted the wellbeing of individuals at various levels (individual, interpersonal, community and policy level) is discussed.