#MeToo: A Comparative Study of the #MeToo Movement in the United States and South Korea Using Collective Action Frames and Hashtag Feminism

Author: Ma. Jestine J. Mendoza

DOI: doi.org/10.54096/GZXA4773

Abstract: The #MeToo movement is one of the most prominent feminist social movements in recent history. Its success exposed the prevalence of sexual harassment in several countries. Although it started in the United States, there are versions of #MeToo in countries such as South Korea. This paper compared the #MeToo movement in the United States and in South Korea through the examination of hashtags and collective action frames that encouraged women to speak out. By evoking messages of empathy, empowerment, and solidarity, #MeToo was able to garner widespread support. Moreover, this paper examined the different factors that will contribute to #MeToo’s sustainability in both countries. These factors include policies that aim to address sexual harassment, legal actions against perpetrators, and other efforts that aim to change the culture of sexism. However, the political and cultural differences between the two countries may result in varying degrees of sustainability. In the United States, policy reforms were introduced because of #MeToo. High-profile cases of sexual harassment were also resolved through the imprisonment of perpetrators. South Korea’s #MeToo led to similar successes, such as receiving support from the government to tackle sexual harassment. This paper finds that the #MeToo movement in the United States is more sustainable due to the policies and legislations that the movement influenced. South Korea has yet to create policies that aim to

protect women from sexual harassment. Furthermore, the paper finds that policy and legal reforms are more sustainable because they signify the institutionalization of #MeToo’s main goal of protecting women and providing justice to victims of sexual abuse.

Keywords: #MeToo, social movements, framing, collective action frames, feminism, hashtag feminism

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