Issue of exclusion within the #MeToo movement in India and to critically examine the need for inclusivity and intersectionality in digital feminist movements in the country

Abstract

The #MeToo campaign gained global traction, with Indian women using social media, particularly Twitter, to share experiences of sexual abuse and harassment. However, the #MeTooIndia movement revealed significant exclusions in representation. This study, through literature review and data collection, explores the lack of inclusivity toward marginalized and gendered bodies, including Dalit women, trans women, and women from lower caste and class backgrounds. While the movement’s visibility largely centered on elite, urban figures such as Bollywood actors, journalists, and politicians, the everyday realities of marginalized groups remained underrepresented. The scarcity of their narratives under the same hashtags highlights systemic barriers rooted in toxic masculinity and insecure digital spaces, which discourage participation. Applying the theoretical lens of intersectionality, this study critically reconsiders strategies for designing and sustaining online feminist movements. The goal is to foster safer, more inclusive, and intersectional digital environments that amplify diverse voices in feminist activism.