#MeToo is a Great Start...

In 2014, I nervously stood on the Hubspot Bold Talks stage and shared my #metoo story. It's an extreme example, but not the only one in my life - women, especially, face harassment on a near daily basis. In case you aren't aware, the hashtag took off after actress Alyssa Milano put out a call on Twitter for anyone who has been sexually harassed or assaulted to write “me too," in order to highlight the widespread problem of sexual harassment and sexual assault.

Harassment and abuse are a systemic issue in our society - not only of women. It is bigger than you can imagine, it is a daily, hourly, nope - make that every 98 seconds - issue in our world. Did you know that only 6 out of every 1,000 rapists will end up in prison? How can we change this?

I'm glad to see that Hollywood has been able to shine light on this issue and get people talking. It's unfortunate that it's taken such a massive scandal for it to happen, but it's a move in the right direction. The reason such incidents have been allowed to continue over and over is due to the fear of speaking up. The fear of not being believed, listened to, helped. The fear of backlash. Now, perhaps the tides are turning.

I was hesitant to jump on the hashtag bandwagon last night. I sometimes feel social media awareness efforts can seem flippant, with people doing little to take actual action. But many of my friends convinced me that even this small gesture is a great start to demonstrate the magnitude of this issue. And while again, abuse is not just a women's issue, I think it may still be difficult for men to understand what it's like to live every single day afraid of harassment - big or small.

Afraid of turning down an advancement at the office. Afraid to walk alone in a parking lot. Afraid to go running, even in broad daylight. Afraid to say no. Afraid to wear something that might be deemed "questionable." Afraid to be harassed even as you are supposedly being helped - when I first started my career in Boston, we had a security guard who was assigned to walk women to the T from the office when asked. When I asked him to do so, I received high-pressure, uncomfortable and unwanted sexual advances from him as well: in the dark, while walking across a barren parking lot where he was supposed to make me feel safe. Because that is what it is like every single day for women.

If you truly want to help this to not just be a passing topical fad on social media, take action. I am part of the speaker's bureau at RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network). There are many ways that you, too, can get involved: tell your own story, educate students, join or start a Prevention Board at your University, fundraise. Educate your sons and daughters, change the language and how we talk about attacks. Don't brush any unwanted advances under the table.

Stop hiding the truth. Stop putting abusive leaders in power.

I'm glad that we are finally talking about this topic in a way that allows victims to speak up. But we need to take the next step to use this momentum and make real change.