#MeToo Call to Action

The overwhelming number of times "#MeToo" has appeared in our social media feeds in recent days should serve as a sobering reminder, even to those men among us who think we're enlightened and sensitive to this issue, that sexual assault and abuse of women and girls is a much bigger problem than many of us realize or care to admit. We men need to check ourselves, and also speak up in defense of women. I have a 13-year-old daughter, and it scares and angers me to imagine what lies ahead for her.

"The fear and anxiety women must live with on a daily basis is something most men will never fully understand."

The "#MeToo" movement should serve as a sobering reminder that sexual assault and abuse of women and girls is a much bigger problem than many of us realize or care to admit. (Illustration created by ChatGPT 4 using prompts written by Darren Phillips on May 21, 2025.)

Might I also point out, and I realize this may not be the appropriate time, that young boys are vulnerable, too. The perpetrators of sexual violence are nearly always male, but the victims are not always female. Sexual assault is about power and control, and young children — male and female alike — are incredibly vulnerable. Roughly one in 20 boys under the age of 18 has been sexually abused or assaulted.

Of course, the numbers for girls are far more sobering. An estimated one in nine girls under the age of 18 has been sexually abused or assaulted. Even worse, one out of every six American women has been the victim of an attempted or completed rape in her lifetime. For men, that number is one in 33. Clearly, the problem of sexual assault and harassment of women and young girls is much more pervasive, and the fear and anxiety women must live with on a daily basis is something most men will never fully understand.

One final thought: Perhaps the greater value of the movement lies in its ability to highlight just how far we have to go. Case in point: I just heard a report on NPR last week about a new court ruling in India that outlaws marital sex with minors. In a country where little girls as young as nine and 10 years old are routinely married off to adult males, the courts have only just now ruled that sex with brides under age 18 is rape. This ruling is a step in the right direction, obviously, but of equal or greater value is the spotlight it shines on the heart-wrenching injustices that remain.

We do indeed have a long, long way to go. ⛅︎

The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed here belong solely to the author, and not necessarily to the author's employer(s) or any other organization, group or individual.

Note: Image and web links added in 2025.

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, help is available. Contact the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network immediately at the number below, or click on the link to chat with a trained staff member.

RAINN operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline in partnership with more than 1,000 local sexual assault service providers across the nation.

Call 1-800-656-HOPE (4673), or chat online with a trained staff member.

One more thing: Consider donating to RAINN to help support survivors of sexual assault. Click the button below.

DONATE