
Though the #MeToo movement has only recently gained traction, sexual harassment is not a new issue. While the term “sexual harassment” wasn’t coined until the 1970s, the concept has been around for centuries. Unfortunately, women have long been subjected to unwanted sexual attention from men in positions of power. In the past, however, there wasn’t much that could be done about it. Women who spoke up were often ignored or disbelieved, and there were few legal protections in place. The situation began to change in the 1970s, when activists like Anita Hill raised awareness of the issue andopened up a national conversation about sexual harassment. Slowly but surely, laws and social norms began to change, giving women more protection from harassers. In recent years, the #MeToo movement has brought the issue of sexual harassment back into the spotlight, and it seems likely that even more progress will be made in the years to come.