Advocates say #MeToo campaign represents shift locally as well
Alyssa Choiniere | Herald-Standard
Counselor Laurie Chappell (left) and legal advocate Courtney Downey of the Fayette County Crime Victims’ Center discuss the local impact of the national #MeToo campaign highlighting the prevalence of sexual assault and harassment.
Alyssa Choiniere | Herald-Standard
Fayette County District Attorney Rich Bower said perpetrators of sexual violence are losing their power as reports of sexual assault and harassment are brought to light both locally and nationally.
A national campaign exposing the prevalence of sexual assault and harassment is empowering local women to come forward with their own stories, said advocates and officials.
The Me Too campaign started as a social media hashtag Oct. 15 in response to a surge of sexual assault and harassment allegations against defamed producer Harvey Weinstein. The campaign quickly gained viral traction as millions of people typed “#MeToo,” indicating they had been a victim of sexual assault or harassment.
Advocates said the national campaign, which focused on public figures, has a trickle-down effect to all levels of society.
“It’s empowering for (victims) to be able to say, ‘I have the power. I have a voice,” said Laurie Chappell, counselor at the Fayette County Crime Victims’ Center. “With this movement, I think people are saying, ‘Enough is enough.'”
Fayette County District Attorney Rich Bower said a high number of alleged victims reported sexual assaults in the weeks and months following the start of the national campaign.
“More often, it’s women. They’re not afraid anymore, and that’s a good thing,” he said.
It is not uncommon for boys, men and older women to report sexual assault as well, Bower said.
“Men are much more reluctant to talk about it. It’s a major stigma. It’s an attack on masculinity. They’re afraid they won’t be looked at as a victim of sexual assault. Men just want to bottle it up and forget about it,” he said.
Several recent reports were for decades-old crimes, some that had exceeded the statute of limitations.
Prosecution must begin within 12 years for “major sexual offenses” under the Pennsylvania crime code, with some exceptions. Rape, statutory sexual assault, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, sexual assault, aggravated indecent assault, incest and sexual abuse of children including pornography are considered “major sexual offenses,” according to the crime code. Exceptions to the statute of limitations apply in some cases, including sexual crimes committed against children, which can often be prosecuted up until the victim’s 50th birthday. Sexual offenses in this category also include trafficking and involuntary servitude, indecent assault, indecent exposure and endangering the welfare of children.
“If you didn’t report it immediately, individuals can be attacked based on the fact that they didn’t report it,” Bower said.
Defense attorneys may argue the alleged victim pressed charges based on false memories. Physical evidence, such as a rape kit and photos or other documentation of injuries are rarely available.
Stigmatization and fear can silence victims, Bower said.
“The power that these people have – the congressmen, the movie stars – they can ruin someone’s life just by making a phone call. The victims understand that, and they’re afraid,” he said. “Your career is done, your whole life changes and it’s a very difficult thing to talk about.”
He described perpetrators of sexual violence as “crafty,” often threatening to hurt victims or their family members if a crime is brought to light.
“They’ve already raped you. They’ve already sexually assaulted you. So what is stopping them from doing that?” he asked rhetorically.
In Washington County, sexual assault reports to the district attorney’s office are not indicative of a trend, according to Judy Nemeth, public information officer for District Attorney Eugene A. Vittone. Five reports were made to the office between October and February, which she described as a typical rate. Nemeth added that while crime reports have not increased, the numbers do not reflect victims who are holding perpetrators accountable in other ways.
Bower said it is rare for a victims to make reports which the office is unable to prosecute, either because of a statute of limitations or other factors. In those cases, the public arena can hold perpetrators accountable. He drew comparisons to a flood of allegations lodged against Catholic priests in the Pittsburgh area, where failure to protect victims and hold perpetrators accountable was systemic, but reports of heinous crimes were still brought to light.
“Everyone was skeptical, and then it mushroomed,” he said. “I think that’s what is happening here.”
Victims advocates often hear stories of sexual assault that are never brought to prosecutors. Counselors said they hope sessions and support will give victims the strength to report crimes, if that is the course a person chooses. The national campaign is providing support some victims never experience. Legal advocate Courtney Downey said many local victims have no support from family and friends, and often go to the hospital alone for treatment and evidence collection through a rape kit. Chappell said while some victims will never report, the increased community support is a catalyst for bringing the most under-reported crimes to light. Downey expects the cultural change caused by the movement will eventually change under-reporting of sex crimes. She said guilty verdicts seem to be on the rise, indicating more people are believing victims.
“People are more aware that these things are taking place, and they’re actually believing people,” she said.
Victim advocate Linda O’Keefe described the movement as part of a cultural shift, saying most women experience some form of harassment that was considered the norm until recently. She said many victims would wonder why they were targeted, not realizing perpetrators often have many victims.
“Years ago, so many people were afraid to come forward even though it happened to many people. They thought it just happened to them,” she said.
She said the accusations and conviction of Larry Nassar, a former USA Gymnastics and Michigan State University doctor, represented a switch from public accusations made by celebrities to women at all levels of society. The case, which revealed more than 160 victims, started with a lone woman from Michigan State University.
“All it took was that one brave girl,” she said. “Women are taking on a whole new role. They’re finding strength. They’re realizing they didn’t do anything wrong.”
Advocates said perpetrators and victims are at all levels of society, and the movement is beginning to reflect that reality.
“It’s good that it’s filtering through different lifestyles. It’s not just the rich and famous. It’s happening here, too,” Chappell said. “People don’t want to see people they respect or admire turning into this monster. But everyone wears a mask, and people are taking these masks off. This isn’t just about Hollywood. It’s about your plain Janes.”
Advocates predicted the eventual impact will change what is considered appropriate in society. Chappell said women are gaining more permission from society to advocate for themselves, take control of their own lives, ask important questions and voice needs and wants without hesitation. O’Keefe said the movement reaches far beyond sexual assault and harassment and into power dynamics at all levels of society.
“It’s just this gradual movement to people calling out inappropriate and wrong things. It’s not just with sexual assault, it’s with the whole culture. Everything is changing,” she said. “What’s happened in the past can’t be changed. But hopefully people will gain a voice even in small rural counties like we have here. Nothing is going to change overnight, but little by little, we’re not going to be silent anymore. It’s definitely an era of change.”