In ‘Of Things Said and Unsaid: Power, Archival Silences, and Power in Silence’, Rodney G.S. Carter describes archives as ‘texts in the broadest sense of the term, including written, visual, audio- visual, and electronic’ (Carter 216). Carter defines archival power as partly the “power to allow voices to be heard” through “highlighting certain narratives and of including certain types of records created by certain groups” (Carter 216).

In present times, where the internet has become vital to most people’s lives, it can be argued social media users are creating their own archives through documenting and posting snippets of their lives online for others to access. As a result, marginalized groups are better able to create a counter narrative that reaches a bigger audience. A significant advantage of online archives is the ability for anyone with internet to access them, and communication is so extensive, it interlinks even individuals living in various parts of the globe.

One prominent example of social media’s immense power is the #MeToo movement coined in 2006, but caught fire in October 2017 after sexual misconduct allegations were made against Harvey Weinstein, a high-profile movie producer (Hawbaker and Johnson). These allegations sparked the “Weinstein effect”, describing the current numerous waves of people who have come forward with their own stories of sexual assault and harassment (n.p, 2018). On social media platforms, most notably Twitter, we can literally trace the movement’s progress from beginning to current through stories which have been tweeted and now archived for everyone to access In fact, #MeToo laid the path for #TimesUp, explained as “a legal defense fund and anti-sexual harassment initiative backed by prominent women in the entertainment industry” (Hawbaker and Johnson).

Yet, the #Metoo movement has also shed light on marginalized groups within the marginalized. Though women have taken the most pro-active role in #Metoo, not every women feels included — most notably, women of colour. Despite how #MeToo’s founder Tania Burke, is black, many women have expressed feeling excluded out of the narrative due to their double disadvantage (Prois and Moreno). They experience discrimination tied to their sex, as well as their race where they can often be objectified, stereotyped, and fetishized based on their ethnicity — an issue white women may not encounter as much (Prois and Moreno). Despite women of colour possessing higher rates of harassment and assault, their cases are taken less seriously (Prois and Moreno). When interviewed on her experience, Shanita Hubbard expressed how difficult it is for black women because of the many variables at play — the mindset to protect their black men who already suffer from police violence, the severe power imbalance if a victim were black but the offender white, and because “society dismisses black women on many levels”, their pain is minimized and not heard (Prois and Moreno).

.As Carter has voiced, it is impossible for archives to be fully representative of society (216). No matter the narrative created by no matter the people, there was always be the possibility of another group excluded. That is not to say the #MeToo movement isn’t significant, especially considering how taboo a subject sexual violence had been a couple years ago, and how some of the accused assaulters were once considered ‘untouchable’ due to their wealth and influence. Yet, it is important to acknowledge any outside voices and continue adding to archival narratives as long as those marginalized are willing. By creating an open space where individuals feel safe and supported to share their grievances without fear of criticism and judgement, their issues can be brought to awareness and create dialogue for change.

Works Cited:

Carter, Rodney G.S. “Of Things Said and Unsaid: Power, Archival Silences, and Power in Silence.” Archivaria 61: Section on Archives, Space and Power, 2006, pp. 216–233., archivaria.ca/index.php/archivaria/article/view/12541/13687. Accessed 3 March 2018.

Johnson, Christen A, and J T Hawbaker. “#MeToo: A timeline of events.” Chicagotribune.com, Chicago Tribune, 26 Feb. 2018, www.chicagotribune.com/lifestyles/ct-me-too-timeline-20171208-htmlstory.html. Accessed 3 March 2018.

Prois, Jessica, and Carolina Moreno. “The #MeToo Movement Looks Different For Women Of Color. Here Are 10 Stories.” Huffington Post, HuffPost Canada, 2 Jan. 2018, www.huffingtonpost.ca/entry/women-of-color-me-too_us_5a442d73e4b0b0e5a7a4992c. Accessed 3 March 2018.