S3 E8. From Doubt to Belief: The Evolution of #MeToo and Survivor Testimony with Leigh Gilmore, author of The #MeToo Effect

The #MeToo movement empowered millions to speak out about sexual violence and changed the default response to women's accounts from universal doubt to selective belief. What changed? In this episode, guest host Sarey Ruden speaks with Leigh Gilmore to discuss her book, “The #MeToo Effect: What Happens When We Believe Women”. They delve into the transformative impact of the #MeToo movement, exploring the evolution of societal responses to women's accounts of sexual violence. A central theme revolves around the power of survivor testimony and the collective strength that arises when survivors speak together, challenging the status quo and paving the way for systemic change. The discussion underscores the importance of reframing the narrative, moving from a focus on individual stories to addressing institutional and cultural factors that perpetuate sexual violence. Some topics we cover include: The transformative influence of the #MeToo movement Evolution of societal responses to women's accounts of sexual violence Tracing historical roots of gender biases Shifting from universal doubt to selective belief The power of survivor testimony and collective strength Reframing the narrative to address institutional and cultural factors Urgency for institutional change Transcription is available here Buy The #MeToo Effect: What Happens When We Believe Women Sareytales -- Become a Patron for access to bonus content and to support the podcast, or buy me a (metaphorical) coffee Follow us: Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Tik Tok | Youtube | LinkedIn Subscribe to our newsletter for a weekly dose of all things WOMAN We need more women’s stories in the world!. If you’ve enjoyed this episode,  please share, subscribe, rate and review on Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen to your podcasts Explore The Story of Woman book recommendations in the US and the UK - purchases support the podcast AND local bookstores 🤩 www.thestoryofwomanpodcast.com