SXSW Sydney 2024 | Mapping the Invisible: How the #MeToo Era Shaped She’s A Crowd
How a movement inspired the world’s largest geo-database of sexual violence
It was 2017, and the world had just witnessed the rise of the #MeToo movement on Twitter. Survivors were stepping forward, sharing their stories, and breaking the silence that had cloaked sexual violence for so long. As a feminist and data activist, I found myself both moved and intrigued by this collective force (I wrote about this on Substack previously). It was unlike anything I’d seen before - a moment of mass consciousness-raising (CR) on a global scale, driven by the power of digital activism. But even then, as I watched this movement unfold, I knew something was missing.
The hashtag had brought the issue into the public sphere, but I wanted to explore what could be done beyond the hashtag. I wondered: how do we turn this monumental outpouring of personal stories into data that can reshape policies, create safer environments, and ultimately lead to lasting change? And how do we do this while still respecting the anonymity and dignity of survivors?
These questions became the foundation for She’s A Crowd - now the world’s largest geo-database of sexual violence. At my upcoming SXSW Sydney session, Mapping the Invisible: Building the World's Largest Geo-Database of Sexual Violence, I will delve deeper into how She’s A Crowd came to be, how it leverages the ethos of #MeToo, and how it continues to influence policies and spaces across the world.
#MeToo as a Catalyst for Collective Change
The #MeToo movement validated my belief that digital spaces could foster feminist consciousness-raising in a way that transcended borders. In my dissertation, I explored how the movement enabled survivors to engage in affective solidarity, creating a collective space where their experiences were validated and amplified. It wasn’t just about speaking out; it was about connecting, empowering, and reshaping the narrative around sexual violence.
But what happens when the digital world moves on? When the trending hashtags fade, and the media spotlight dims? That’s where the concept of mapping came into play. I wanted to capture those stories in a way that wouldn’t be lost in the digital abyss. The concept of mapping violence is certainly not new. She’s A Crowd was built upon the efforts and initiatives of many activists who came before. For example, the public pedagogy of Suzanne Lacy’s “rape map” served as a profound inspiration. By visualising survivor stories through geo-mapping, we could anchor those experiences in the public consciousness - creating an indelible impact that wouldn’t fade away.
Three Weeks in May (1977) by Suzanne Lacy
From #MeToo to She’s A Crowd: The Power of Data
She’s A Crowd began as a response to the transient nature of digital activism. I wanted to create a space where survivors could anonymously share their stories, and where those stories would be stored, analysed, and utilised to drive real-world change. We’re not just gathering data; we’re creating a movement that positions data as a tool for justice. The geo-database allows us to see patterns in where violence occurs and provide decision-makers with the information they need to create safer communities for women and gender-diverse people.
In my SXSW Sydney talk, I’ll discuss the ethical complexities of collecting such sensitive data, the technological innovations that have made this possible, and the responsibility we carry in ensuring that this data serves the best interests of survivors. At the heart of She’s A Crowd is the belief that data can empower survivors in ways that go beyond simply “speaking out”. It gives their experiences weight in decision-making processes and helps foster a sense of justice.
Building the Future of Feminist Consciousness
The #MeToo era opened the door to a new level of feminist consciousness, and She’s A Crowd aimed to push that door even wider. We’re still striving to make the point. I believe we’ve built more than a database - we’ve built a resource that influences policies, creates safer environments, and empowers survivors with the knowledge that their stories matter. At SXSW, I’ll explore how this project is evolving, and how crowd-sourced data continues to shape the way we understand and respond to sexual violence globally.
As I prepare for my SXSW session, I’m excited to invite my Substack readers to explore this journey with me. Whether you’ve been a supporter of She’s A Crowd from the beginning or are just learning about our work, this is an opportunity to see how far we’ve come…and explore how much further we can go.
Thank you for being part of this movement. Let’s continue to raise consciousness, challenge systems, and map the invisible.