Advocating for #MeToo: The Legislative Effects of Congressional Women’s Caucuses

• In Event: Examining Black Legislative Caucuses

Abstract

Following the #MeToo movement, women legislators were more likely to sponsor legislation to address sexual assault, harassment, and workplace inequality. What role did congresswomen’s caucuses have on encouraging sponsorship of #MeToo legislation? In this paper, we analyze the co-sponsorship networks of legislators that emerged following the #MeToo movement. Using an original typology anti assault and harassment legislation from 2015 to 2020 (114th - 116th Congresses), we conduct network analyses to determine the networks of legislative sponsorship that emerged following #MeToo. In this analysis, we compare the networks that emerged in the Caucus for Black Women and Girls and the Bipartisan Women’s Caucus. The results of this comparison between these two caucuses reflect the intersectional origin of Tarana Burke’s iteration of #MeToo and the potential for bipartisan unity toward the issues of sexual assault, harassment, and workplace inequality.

Authors

• Kristen Essel, Brown University

• Karra McCray Gibson, Brown University