This movement was actually initiated 10 years ago by an African-American woman named Tarana Burke, who explains in her own words on the website metoo.support that she wanted “Me Too” to be a catchphrase to be shared between survivors of assault. She intended the catchphrase to promote healing and empowerment of those affected, with a focus on women of colour.

In contrast, the recent hashtag focuses on raising awareness. The visibility, awareness and solidarity that has been fostered demonstrates the incredible power that social media has in mobilizing people on vital issues. However, the campaign places pressure on the victims of sexual assault and harassment to expose their wounds and reveal traumatic experiences for people to believe them and take the issue seriously.

While many women struggle to come to terms with being survivors of sexual violence and aggression, an even bigger problem is that men have trouble considering themselves (or their friends) the aggressors. In the current “Me Too” campaign, the victim must take centre stage while the aggressor is able to remain hidden from sight. Still, it is important not to discount the bravery of the individuals who have shared “Me Too” posts in an effort to raise awareness of the extent that sexual assault and harassment affects people. I don’t condone the silencing of victims. This movement empowers individuals who have been sexually harassed or assaulted to come to terms with their experiences, to remove the stigma of being victims, to build solidarity with other affected individuals and to take a stand. However, it is extremely telling that when I saw women I knew post “#MeToo” I was never surprised. I don’t think I know a woman who has never been sexually harassed or assaulted in one way or another.

For men, understanding the magnitude of the problem is an important first step, but there is a lot more work that needs to be done in addressing the root causes. Our society needs to stop systemically suppressing victims of sexual assault and harassment. In the end, by compelling victims to reveal their pain, we place an undue responsibility on victims to solve the problem. While it’s easy to imagine these aggressors as obvious villains, often they are a classmate sitting across from you, a friendly face at the bar or even a friend. Maybe if we can place the focus on the aggressors and those who are complicit in protecting them, we can make a real change. It shouldn’t be our job to display our trauma to you.

Following a particularly negative experience in which I was groped by a stranger at a local bar, I felt as though there was a lack of appropriate avenues to express my concerns or pursue solutions. When I tried to take action by disclosing the incident, I do not feel as though my concerns were taken seriously. I felt defeated in my efforts to resolve an issue that would continue to put other patrons at risk. Sexual assault itself makes victims feel violated and unsafe, while the systemic barriers that hinder victims’ ability to obtain support make the experiences even more disheartening.

Mount Allison students should be able to feel safe at bars in town. Generally, the environment of these spaces is such that sexual assault and violence are risk factors for women. The fact that the protection of female patrons is not prioritized at all of the nightlife venues in Sackville is unacceptable.

A person who doesn’t value a woman’s autonomy over her own body or her right to consent is a person who should be removed immediately from a nightlife establishment. From my experiences, this is often not the case.

When I felt that my safety at a bar was not prioritized, I left in tears, feeling dejected, helpless and scared. Violating a woman’s consent, whether it’s in a bar, a library, or in your own home, is sexual assault — a crime. Seemingly small acts have the ability to make victims feel vulnerable, embarrassed and violated. I no longer have any interest in going out to places where I feel unsafe.

In light of the danger to women that is often present in nightlife spaces, particularly in a university setting like Sackville, I believe that Club P’s recent Facebook marketing for an event titled “Ladies Night,” which has since been cancelled, was disrespectful and inappropriate.

The event description, before it was amended and apologized for on the Club P Facebook page, read: “Being a girl is hard. Club P wants to reward women for taking that extra challenge every day. Ladies get drinks at half-price until 1 a.m.! You go girls, you’re HOT!”

The sexist tone and wording of this event description is exceptionally offensive. There is a condescending attitude toward female oppression as well as an affirmation of the notion that a woman’s value should be measured by her desirability.

When female students took to Facebook to express their opposition to this event, the Club P Facebook page initially refused to discuss its intentions behind the event, responding “No” to students who asked to have the event taken down or renamed. This blatant disrespect of women’s concerns is both ironic and depressing given that the discussions concerned an event called “Ladies Night.”

More work is needed to make bars in university settings safer spaces for women, given the increased risk they face on nights out. Venues need to adjust their business practices and policies to make the safety of their patrons their top priority. All people should feel that they will be respected and feel safe, and that the staff will react quickly and appropriately to their serious concerns.

Given Sackville’s limited nightlife scene, women should not have to be put at risk of sexual violence when they choose to go out. It’s time that we listen seriously to the concerns of women and take the appropriate action to turn nightlife venues into safe spaces.