Beyond backlash: #MeToo and female unemployment trends

Abstract

In 2006, American activist Tarana Burke initiated the Me-Too movement to empower women to stand up against sexual abuse. However, it was not until October 2017, when actress Alyssa Milano encouraged survivors to share their stories on social media that the movement gained widespread attention, leading to the viral spread of the hashtag #MeToo. This symbol of solidarity among survivors of sexual harassment and assault quickly became a global phenomenon. As with any movement that challenges the status quo, Me-Too faced significant backlash. By early 2018, some journalists, writers, and corporate businesspeople in the US voiced concerns that the movement might inadvertently lead to reduced hiring of women, potentially fostering a climate of fear and silence among victims. Contrary to these fears, we argue that the Me-Too movement could improve women's employment prospects. Utilizing transfer function and intervention analysis on monthly US female unemployment rate data from January 1995 to February 2020, we explore the immediate and dynamic effects of the movement's surge in 2017. Our findings indicate that #MeToo has not negatively impacted female employment chances. This study highlights the potential of using nuanced, high-frequency time-series data to inform research in sociology, economics, and related fields.