MeToo began humbly in 2006 as a way to mobilize grassroots support for victims of sexual violence, but it exploded into a worldwide phenomenon beginning in 2017, exposing crude, harassing, intimidating, and violent behaviors by individuals as well as the systems that allow such behaviors to thrive. A group of prominent feminist scholars joined WorldCanvass host Joan Kjaer on February 1, from 5:30-7:00 p.m., in a virtual discussion of “The Global Implications of MeToo.” With expertise on MeToo in the United States, United Kingdom, Brazil, France, India, Korea, and various parts of Africa, panelists not only reflected on the aspect of solidarity behind MeToo but on the backlash that accompanies it.

Date: February 1, 2022 | 5:30-7:00 p.m.

Location: Virtual through Zoom

Free and open to the public.

Program Details

MeToo as a viral worldwide phenomenon

• Meenakshi Gigi Durham—University of Iowa, feminist scholar, journalism professor, and author of MeToo: The Impact of Rape Culture in the Media
• Raquel Paiva—Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, feminist scholar, has written on MeToo in Brazil
• Rosemarie Scullion—University of Iowa, feminist scholar, expertise in #BalanceTonPorc in France

Specific cases and challenges in different contexts

• Dinfin Koyonjo Mulupi—University of Maryland, has written on sexual harassment and violence in Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa
• Hyaeweol Choi—University of Iowa, feminist scholar, director of the Korean Studies Research Network, and author of Gender Politics at Home and Abroad
• Rachel Phillips—Cardiff University, PhD student, researching media coverage of MeToo in the United Kingdom

Upsides, downsides, and the future of transnational solidarity

• Adrien Wing—University of Iowa, law professor, director of the University of Iowa Center for Human Rights
• Pallavi Guha—Towson University, journalism professor, author of Hear #Metoo
• Meenakshi Gigi Durham—University of Iowa, feminist scholar, journalism professor, and author of MeToo: The Impact of Rape Culture in the Media

WorldCanvass programs are recorded as audio podcasts and are available on iTunes, the Public Radio Exchange (PRX), and the WorldCanvass website.  Videos are available on YouTube. WorldCanvass is produced by University of Iowa International Programs.

Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to attend all University of Iowa-sponsored events. If you are a person with a disability who requires a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in this program, please contact Amy Green in advance at amy-green-1@uiowa.edu or 319-335-1433.