Ellen DeGeneres joined the #MeToo movement, saying this “isn’t a male or a female thing”
As the days go on, more and more celebrities are speaking up about sexual harassment and assault. Ellen DeGeneres added her name to the #MeToo movement and shared some important words on why this issue affects all of us.
The #MeToo campaign was started a decade ago by activist Tarana Burke, who wanted to use the phrase to reach out to sexual assault victims in underprivileged communities. Actress Alyssa Milano helped spread the campaign on Twitter and Facebook, asking those who’ve been assaulted or harassed to post a status of “#MeToo,” in an effort to prove that sexual abuse happens so much more often than many people realize.
“This is not a male thing or a female thing,” DeGeneres said. “It is not a Hollywood thing or a political thing. This is a human thing. And it happens in the workplace, it happens in families, it happens all over the world, and we are all the same. We all want the same thing — we want respect and love and kindness. And if I could have those three things — and a new iPhone 10 — I would be complete.”
While the comedian did manage to throw a few jokes in with her speech, it’s obvious that she knows this topic isn’t a laughing matter. DeGeneres said she believes that a lot of the problem stems from the fact that young women are taught to “stay quiet and be nice,” contributing to a culture of silence and obedience.
— Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) October 17, 2017
“It’s fantastic that everyone is posting the hashtag and also taking some time to share their stories,” DeGeneres said. “As hard as this is to talk about, at least we are talking about it. It’s not like this is a new thing; it has been going on forever.”
She also had a suggestion as to how we might be able to break the cycle.
“If you’re a parent, we can break the cycle and teach our little girls and our little boys that girls should be strong [and] boys should be kind,” she said.
We’re glad that DeGeneres spoke up about the #MeToo movement on the show — she’s capable of reaching so many people, and this is a conversation that needs to keep going strong.
