Financially hard-up women get help in pursuing MeToo cases
NEW YORK — A dollar store cashier from Brooklyn. Five fire department paramedics in Chicago. An aspiring singer shunned by Nashville’s country music establishment.
Thanks to a $22 million legal fund, they’ve now teamed up with top-notch lawyers to pursue #MeToo-style sex harassment cases that they otherwise couldn’t have afforded.
In its early phases, the #MeToo movement was epitomized by professional women from the worlds of movie-making, media and politics who spoke out about sexual harassment. One year after its birth, as the movement remains vibrant, there are ever-growing resources to help financially struggling women, including many from low-wage workplaces, litigate their complaints.
The most ambitious initiative is the Time’s Up Legal Defence Fund. Since its launch in January by women from the entertainment industry, more than 780 attorneys have signed up for its legal network, and more than 3,550 people have asked for help. Of the $22 million contributed to the fund by more than 21,000 donors, almost $4 million has been committed already to more than 50 cases.