The torrent of #metoo witness narratives of sexual violence and harassment has brought the inadequacy of the criminal justice system to the fore. Not only has the campaign showcased the malfunctioning of the legal system and the pervasiveness of sexual abuse. Online forums have offered victim-survivors a place for validation, recognition, and perpetrator accountability not offered by the formal justice system. Between these terrains of justice, formal legality and informal demands for justice voiced by victim-survivors, a major justice gap can be identified.

Our project explores emerging conceptualizations of justice emanating from the digital #metoo campaign against sexual harassment and violence, and how the victim-survivors’ demands are responded to by mainstream media, law, and policy. How does #metoo bring about new conceptualizations of justice and how are efforts made to lessen the justice gap that the #metoo campaign highlights?

To answer these overarching questions we employ both qualitative and quantitative research methods. Concretely, we will study: 1) the demands for justice within the #metoo witness narratives 2) mainstream media’s framing of the campaign 3) various stakeholders’ policy suggestions and possible legal amendments 4) police investigations, prosecutors’ decisions and court judgements The interdisciplinary research group, which combines expertise in criminal law and feminist theory, restorative justice, and digital feminist activism vouch for the realization of this project.