Publication Date

2019

Journal or Book Title

Media Ethics

Abstract

In the aftermath of the confirmation hearings of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, in the United States the phrase “I believe Christine Blasey Ford” was trending next to “I still believe Anita Hill,” #MeToo, and “Why I didn’t report.” At 51, Dr. Ford explained that Kavanaugh attempted to rape her in high school. In the United States, Democratic politicians mobilized her trauma as evidence of Kavanaugh’s unfitness for the position of Supreme Court Justice while some Republicans questioned the legitimacy and weight of her claims (Stolberg, 2018). Although there is precedent for the handling of accusations of sexual misconduct in Supreme Court confirmation hearings, the way in which the story and testimony was reported and received politically, nationally, and internationally illuminates the dialogism (Bahktin, 1981) as well as the moral imperative of the #MeToo movement.

Volume

30

Issue

1

License

UMass Amherst Open Access Policy

Download

Share

COinS