Don't Bogart My Blog: Sunday Best: Has #MeToo actually mattered?

From Weinstein to Kavanaugh, here's a look at the past year.

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Sunday, October 7, 2018

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A year ago this week, The New York Times published the first Harvey Weinstein investigation, quickly followed by The New Yorker, spurring the #MeToo movement. Weinstein was indicted this summer after dozens of women accused him of sexual assault.

In a cruel coincidence of timing yesterday, the Senate effectively rolled out a red carpet to the Supreme Court for Brett Kavanaugh, despite Christine Blasey Ford's powerful sexual assault allegations against him.

Between the two events, many powerful men have been felled for bad or outright criminal behavior — and some are on the rise again. Their circumstances are different, but they raise the question: Has anything really changed since the #MeToo movement began? Zoe Greenberg lays out the things that have, but notes that still, "there's a long way to go."

This is a special edition of Sunday Best, where writers reflect on the #MeToo movement one year after it began. Write to me at Op-reads@nytimes.com to tell me what progress, if any, you think we've made in the last year. Your comments may be featured in next week's newsletter. — Alexandra March

One Year After Spilling Weinstein's Secrets, This Is Just the Beginning

Melinda Beck

By JODI KANTOR AND MEGAN TWOHEY

"Now, even after a year of painful memories, cascades of firings, widespread outrage, criticism from the president and a fight over a Supreme Court seat, we have only one firm prediction: This discussion over harassment and assault has no end in sight," write Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey, two of The Times reporters who broke the initial story last year.

Where the Legacy of the Patriarchy Meets the Future of Feminism

Democratic House members dressed in black on Tuesday in a show of solidarity against sexual assault. Gabriella Demczuk for The New York Times

We can't know what the history books will say 50 years from now because we're still in the thick of it. We have seen a culture shift, but few laws have changed. We don't even know what due process looks like in many cases. We're in uncharted territory, and we're drawing the map as we go. Some argue that this will be considered a pivotal moment in history; others think it will be fleeting. One year on, we asked Times contributors to reflect on pieces they penned at the dawn of the movement. Were they right?

Speaking Out Against a Powerful Man

The author, Tanya Selvaratnam. Damon Winter/The New York Times

By TANYA SELVARATNAM

Deciding to speak out against a powerful man is difficult. The aftermath is even worse.

"Law & Order: S.V.U." Isn't My Favorite Show Anymore

Harvey Weinstein being escorted into Manhattan Criminal Court for his arraignment in May. Hilary Swift for The New York Times

By ROXANE GAY

One after another, women have spoken up. They have named their abusers, they have recounted their stories. The world watches, but history repeats itself. Roxane Gay examines the past year — from Weinstein to Kavanaugh — how far we've come and how stuck we still are.

Read the full Opinion report here.

In keeping with the theme of activism, here are a few more gems from the week.

Emma González: Vote, Shave Your Head and Cry Whenever You Need To

America's New Rage-Fueled "I Voted" Stickers

The Myth of the Lazy Nonvoter

If you're looking for some comic relief and live in the San Francisco area, come to The New York Times Opinion Live on Friday, Oct. 19. for an evening on politics and advice — and advice on coping with politics — with Roxane Gay, Michelle Goldberg and others, hosted by Rachel Dry. Everyone will have a chance to advise on this moment in all of our lives. Get tickets here.