The Offline Impact of #MeToo: Christine Blasey Ford's Letter Archive and Survivors' Responses

• In Event: Sociology of Sex and Gender Section Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (60 minute): Table 15. Violence: Framing, Interpretation, and Advocacy

Abstract

#MeToo resulted in millions of tweets and a widespread reckoning about the epidemic of gender-based violence. #MeToo’s impact was felt far and wide: from the accountability experienced by some perpetrators to the collective feminist moment that bound women together in their experiences with violence. Beyond the cacophony on social media, though, there were many women who came forward with their experiences of gender-based violence in high-profile settings and/or involving famous individuals, such as Dr. Christine Blasey Ford who testified at then-Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation hearing. Despite the massive media attention, little is known about the impact of these figures’ stories on the #MeToo movement and on survivors themselves. Drawing on a unique dataset of thousands of letters written to Dr. Christine Blasey Ford, we have constructed an archive of #MeToo (our in-process analysis also includes thousands of correspondences to a famous journalist and hip hop executive, both with high profile #MeToo stories). We find that public disclosures serve a powerful purpose, breaking the silence of sexual violence and encouraging others to do the same. Not only do their testimonies and public experiences allow members of the public to speak about previously silenced experiences, but they also motivated significant political engagement. Given that 79 million women in the US have experienced sexual violence, giving voice to their experiences and trauma, and shedding light on our collective opportunities to rupture these silences, is critical.

Authors

• Alison Dahl Crossley, Stanford University

• Bethany J. Nichols, Stanford University

• Adrian Daub, Stanford University