Polskie #MeToo. Analiza feministyczno-kryminologiczna

Abstract

#MeToo movement erupted globally in 2017 and was aimed at making violence against women visible. Women all over the world via social media platforms denounced violence they suffered and evidenced its ubiquity in their lived experiences. The criminal justice system was deemed inadequate in tackling this deep-rooted social phenomenon. But did it really turn out to be a better solution?
In my paper drawing on high-profile #MeToo cases in Poland (the case of „paper feminists”, Janusz Rudnicki, Margot, Bagatela Theatre) I will try to elaborate on the fundamental question, was (or still is being) #MeToo good for women, particularly in raising awareness on violence against women and sexual violence and changing social attitudes. In order to do so I trace the development of the phenomena from 2017 to 2022 in Poland. 
The greatest legacy of #MeToo is the culture of online callouts and „cancel culture” for the people accused of sexual violence as a way of doing justice. However, the interesting point is that #MeToo evolved into tracing harassment at work, mobbing (rarely with any sexual component), and only in specific realms – artistic milieus or elite professions like journalism. It seems that personal arrangements favors, injuries, and acts of vengeance played a crucial role rather than the gravity of deeds. A movement that was primarily aimed at making visible male violence against women turned out against women themselves since a lot of women have been targeted by callouts. It did not either replace or supplant the criminal justice system, albeit the consequences of „cancelling” for some accused were harsh, sometimes harsher than judicial sanctions.