EMPOWERING CHANGE: EXAMINING THE #METOO INFLUENCE ON THE RISE OF #SAYAJUGA SOCIAL MOVEMENT IN MALAYSIA AND INDONESIA (2018-2023)

Abstract

The #MeToo movement, which gained momentum in 2017, has become a powerful force in unveiling the issue of sexual harassment in society. As a social media-driven campaign, #MeToo has succeeded in inspiring people to reveal the gender inequality that occurs in their respective countries by creating local hashtag such as #SayaJuga. Therefore, this research aims to analyze the impact of the #MeToo Movement on the emergence of the #SayaJuga social movement in Malaysia and Indonesia throughout 2018–2023. Using the New Social Movement Theory by Saunders & Roth this research will employ the qualitative analysis methods to delves into the ways in which #MeToo served as a catalyst for the #Sayajuga movement and examines how survivors and advocates adapted the global narrative to address specific challenges regarding the remaining issues of sexual harassment. This research discovers that, while #MeToo has served as a driving force for the #SayaJuga movement, there are significant differences regarding the course of the #MeToo social movement in Indonesia and Malaysia due to factors such as regulations, the diversity of existing cases of sexual harassment, and media coverage.