STATEMENT – #MeToo seven years later: Progress and challenges in the fight for gender justice

October 15. 2024

For Immediate Release
Oct 15, 2024

Media Contact
Nazirah Ahmad
[email protected]

Statement from Noreen Farrell, Executive Director, on the seven-year anniversary of #MeToo going viral

Seven years after Tamara Burke’s #MeToo movement went viral on social media, Equal Rights Advocates stands resolute in the fight against workplace harassment and sexual assault. 

We’ve seen incredible progress—in the past seven years alone, 25 states and the District of Columbia have passed more than 80 anti-harassment bills, marking a significant shift in how our society addresses workplace misconduct. But the fight is far from over. Indeed, what were considered “fringe” ideas seven years ago have become mainstream policy proposals by many far-right advocates and policymakers.  

In response to these challenges, ERA has doubled down on our efforts. In 2022 we scored a landmark victory with the ban on forced arbitration in sexual assault cases—ensuring survivors can have their day in court, marking a crucial victory in empowering survivors to seek justice on their own terms. And we shattered the common employment practice of silencing survivors through NDAs, giving voice to countless survivors moving forward. 

The fight for workplace justice has continued to gain ground with the reintroduction of the federal BE HEARD Act this year, signaling a comprehensive approach to addressing sexual harassment. This legislation not only aims to strengthen anti-harassment protections but also tackles the root causes of vulnerability, such as the subminimum wage for tipped workers. By addressing both the symptoms and the underlying conditions that enable harassment, the BE HEARD Act represents the next frontier in our ongoing battle for safe and equitable workplaces.

At the state level, California continues to set the gold standard for anti-harassment legislation. The recent signing of SB 1386 strengthens the state’s Civil Rape Shield Law, providing crucial protections for survivors in civil cases. Additionally, ERA’s co-sponsored legislation breaking new ground in recognizing intersectional discrimination demonstrates our commitment to addressing the complex realities of workplace harassment and discrimination.

But make no mistake—the backlash against women’s advancement is intensifying, with initiatives like Project 2025 threatening to reverse hard-won progress and undermine women’s economic participation and reproductive freedoms. 

Seven years ago, #MeToo was a hashtag. Today, it’s a movement that’s rewriting laws and changing lives. As we commemorate this anniversary, we recommit ourselves to the fight for gender justice in workplaces and schools across the country.