The POSH Advocacy Group, in collaboration with the Pride Forum and Syahi — the Literature Club of SIAS — organised an exhibition dedicated to the #MeToo movement. The event aimed to educate the student body on the movement’s significance and importance while sparking much-needed conversations.
The Larger Picture
The #MeToo movement, coined in 2007 by Tarana Burke, gained global prominence in 2017 after sexual assault accusations against Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein came to light. The #MeToo hashtag went viral, empowering survivors to voice their experiences, break long-held silences and seek reparations. It also highlighted systemic patterns of abuse, particularly by individuals in positions of power and emphasised the movement’s core mission: reducing harm and fostering accountability, rather than simply “canceling” powerful figures.
The exhibition showcased the movement’s milestones, from policy reforms to the empowering act of giving survivors a voice. It explored nuanced themes, shifting the conversation from a binary men-vs-women dynamic to a broader understanding of sexual harassment as rooted in power dynamics. Creative entries from students depicted these complexities, conveying that harassment is about power and impunity rather than gender alone.
Driving Conversations
The event also contextualised the #MeToo movement within India, examining its impact on the Malayalam film industry and addressing intersectional struggles faced by survivors. The goal was to amplify the visibility of these struggles, provoke thought and inspire action.
By blending education with creativity, the exhibition underscored the global resonance of the #MeToo movement — a reminder of the widespread nature of these issues and the ongoing need for dialogue and systemic change. While progress has been made, the work remains far from complete.
– A report by Catherine Jaison, Cohort of 2027, SIAS and Kanika Dua, Cohort of 2025, SIAS