The world was turned on its side in October of 2014 when famous and beloved actor Bill Cosby was reported to have raped multiple women over the span of his career and was pressed with charges involving rape, drug facilitated sexual assault, sexual battery, child sexual assault, and sexual misconduct. In the three years following the first allegation, dozens of sexual assault victims have come forth and called out public figures as being sexual predators, with names including producer Harvey Weinstein, actor Kevin Spacey, news anchor Bill O’Reilly, actor Ed Westwick, and comedian Louis CK.

 One of the most recently publicized offenders is one of Hollywood’s richest and most powerful men: Harvey Weinstein. In October, 2017, the media reported that Weinstein had been accused of sexually harassing, assaulting, and raping dozens of young women. The women accusing Weinstein include names such as Cara Delevingne, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Angelina Jolie. Consequently, Weinstein was fired from his production company and suspended from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts. As a result of the accusations, the #MeToo campaign was launched on Twitter that encouraged victims to share their once suppressed stories involving any sort of sexual misconduct. This has since opened up a panel for much needed conversation on sexual harassment, assault, and rape.

 With accusations from actor Anthony Rapp against Kevin Spacey, stereotypes that sexual assault only happens to women are finally being destroyed. On October 29, Rapp stated that he met Spacey right as he began his career on Broadway, when Rapp was only fourteen. He explained that even though he looked younger than his age at the time, Spacey still invited him to a nightclub called Limelight. It was later that night when Spacey attempted to make sexual advances at him. One in thirty-three men are victims of completed or attempted sexual assault and, with such a widely publicized story, this opens a conversation that will hopefully bring down the stereotype.

 Someone in the United States is sexually assaulted every eight minutes, and one in six women are victims of attempted or completed rape in their lifetime. However, all of these statistics–along with the victims’ stories–seem to have been swept under the rug, with limited discussions on the topic or legislation implemented to prevent future occurrences. Junior Waverly Noble commented, “It’s important that sexual assault is being talked about and that victims are coming forward because it may encourage others who have been assaulted to also share their stories.” With stories coming out in the mainstream media involving victims coming forth with allegations that are not immediately dismissed, it is finally encouraging a much needed conversation on sexual assault that will hopefully lead to legislative action.

 The media and general public has long turned a blind eye to sexual misconduct, even with its widespread prevalence. But hopefully events like the #MeToo campaign will emphasize the importance of sexual assault awareness and enforce the American government to take legislative action against all kinds of sexual misconduct–against both men and women.