Det blir ikke stille før stormen er over [It will not be quiet until the storm is over]

Abstract

Why do victims of different sorts of sexual harassment and abuse feel shame? In this essay, I apply the autoethnographic method to reflect on the debate about the #MeToo movement in Norway. Using my personal experiences and practice as a social worker and my interaction with other women who have taken part in the #MeToo movement, I reflect on the different aspects in the debate that can lead to shamefulness for the victims. Women bear the responsibility for being harassed or assaulted in cultures characterized by male dominance in a number of areas. Women have themselves to blame when they are victimized. In such a climate, victims seem to harbor a sense of shame when they don’t manage to avoid harassment. Blame and shame switch from the harasser to the victim. This essay contributes new knowledge and insight through experiences with sexual harassment and storytelling in the #MeToo movement.