Vision & Theory
of change
The ‘me too.’ Movement believes…
The ‘me too.’ Movement believes in the radical possibilities of a movement against sexual violence, led by survivors of sexual violence.
When survivors channel their unique empathy in community with one another, and in service of a future free from sexual violence, that’s when change happens.
As survivors we have the knowledge, skill, experience, imagination, vision, and creativity to identify, address, and bring radical transformation to our communities and institutions. To support and activate survivors, The ‘me too.’ Movement engages an innovative model of survivor leadership with a ‘whole-self approach’ to healing from sexual violence, that grows out of understanding survival. Pathways to healing must include wrap-around interventions and support mechanisms to best embrace survivors as their whole selves. This includes healing through engagement in community organizing, where survivors are empowered to fight sexual violence with courage and conviction.
How We Do the Work
Supporting Survivor Healing and Community-Based Action to Interrupt Sexual Violence
The ‘me too.’ Movement supports survivors of sexual violence and their allies by connecting survivors to resources, offering community organizing resources, pursuing a ‘me too.’ policy platform, and working with researchers to add to the field and chart our way forward. We believe that the movement begins with connecting survivors to resources for healing, justice, action and leadership.
We affirm that empowerment happens when we lead with empathy. This tenet is upheld as part of our survivor-led healing circles, survivor leadership training and college programs.
Tarana Burke began ‘me too.’ with young Black women and girls from low wealth communities. She developed culturally-informed curricula to discuss sexual violence within the Black community and in society at large. Similarly, The ‘me too.’ Movement seeks to support folks working within their communities to attend to the specific needs of their community/communities.
Vision
me too. International envisions a world free of sexual violence. We assert that the transformation of oppressive systems, narratives, and cultures, grounded in the lived experiences and leadership of survivors, creates space for generative ideas, practices, and relationships rooted in love, respect, empathy, and wellness. We imagine communities that are abundant with joy, safety, and resources and committed to radical healing, and we are committed to the work to live toward this vision.
Mission
‘me too.’ serves as a convener, thought leader, and organizer across the mainstream and the grassroots to address systems that allow for the proliferation of sexual violence, specifically in Black, queer, trans, disabled, and all communities of color. Leveraging its model and framework, grounded in existing research and theory, ‘me too.’ centers individual and community healing and transformation, empowerment through empathy, shifting cultural narratives and practices and advancing a global survivor-led movement to end sexual violence.