BBC Homepage
  • Skip to content
  • Accessibility Help
  • Your account
  • Notifications
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • iPlayer
  • Sounds
  • Bitesize
  • CBBC
  • CBeebies
  • Food
  • More menu
More menu
Search BBC
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • iPlayer
  • Sounds
  • Bitesize
  • CBBC
  • CBeebies
  • Food
Close menu
BBC News
Menu
  • Home
  • InDepth
  • Israel-Gaza war
  • War in Ukraine
  • Climate
  • UK
  • World
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Culture
More
  • Tech
  • Science
  • Health
  • Family & Education
  • In Pictures
  • Newsbeat
  • BBC Verify
  • Disability
  • BBC Trending

The all-female groups discussing harassment

  • Published
    2 November 2017
Share page
About sharing
Whatsapp iconImage source, Getty Images
ByBBC Trending
Going in-depth on social media

A series of allegations against prominent men has begun to surface on social media - in all-female groups on WhatsApp, shared Google Docs, and Facebook pages - in the wake of allegations of sexual assault and rape against Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein.

Leaks about British politicians have reached political reporters, but there are further allegations about sexual harassment being circulated online, and they go well beyond politics into the worlds of media, fashion and film.

The BBC has seen a list thought to have been compiled by staff and researchers at Westminster, detailing a range of mostly unproven allegations about 40 Conservative MPs and ministers.

In other industries, a number of all-female WhatsApp groups have been created, in some cases to warn women about potential harassment. One with the title "Pervy Men of Journalism" includes dozens of mainly UK-based female journalists.

line

You might also be interested in:

  • Follow BBC Trending on Facebook, external

  • 'MeToo' and the scale of sexual abuse

  • Allegations 'completely false' - Green

line

In addition, Buzzfeed reported on a Google Docs spreadsheet which is now circulating widely. It contains the names of around 70 male journalists - mostly based in the United States - who are accused of a large variety of potential sexual offences or inappropriate behaviours.

The groups and documents, along with Facebook pages devoted to exposing sexual harassment allegations, have resulted in several cases, external of men losing jobs or freelance gigs, external.

WhatsApp groups have been formed by female journalists at a number of companies, including the BBC. Of course, many of these groups are simply digital versions of office chat, and pre-date the Harvey Weinstein allegations. Weinstein has denied all allegations of non-consensual sex made against him.

The key difference between offline conversations is the viral nature of some of the documents and chats and their persistence online. For instance, the original spreadsheet about US journalists was deleted, but before very long another version appeared and was widely shared.

Some of the groups have been created specifically to talk about harassment, and in addition to politics and media, BBC Trending has learned of similar groups made up of women working in the film and fashion industries. Clearly many more will have sprung up in a variety of companies and fields since the Twitter hashtag campaign #metoo.

American model Cameron Russell published messages she received about harassment on her Instagram page, external with the hashtag #MyJobShouldNotIncludeAbuse.

Many of the writers who sent their stories said it was often photographers, bookers, agents and clients who were involved in harassment of models. Cameron Russell says stories like the ones being shared with her are not new.

In a post she wrote, external, "This was not an expose because nothing in these stories should be a revelation for those working in our industry. Instead it was the beginning of a power shift."

The phenomenon also isn't limited to the US and the UK. In India, female law student Raya Sarkar posted a list on Facebook of alleged sexual predators in academia. She encouraged other women to come forward anonymously and add to the list, and said the evidence for the allegations came in the form of emails, screenshots, WhatsApp messages and phone recordings.

Sarkar says as a result of publishing the list she has been subjected to rape threats and death threats.

Writing on her Facebook page she says: "The list will stay for students to be wary."

Do you have a story for BBC Trending? Email us, external.

More from Trending: Can a Facebook friend request be 'harassment'?

Sharmeen Obaid-ChinoyImage source, Getty Images

A filmmaker touched off a debate in Pakistan revolving around one question - can a Facebook friend request ever be considered harassment?...READ MORE

You can follow BBC Trending on Twitter @BBCtrending, external, and find us on Facebook, external. All our stories are at bbc.com/trending.

Top stories

  • Live. 

    Trump to meet Starmer after hailing second UK state visit as 'highest honour' at banquet

    • 18879 viewing19k viewing
  • Watch: Pomp and protests on day one of Trump state visit

    • Published
      10 hours ago
  • US firms pledge £150bn investment in UK, as Starmer hosts Trump

    • Published
      1 hour ago

More to explore

  • Fashion risks going backwards on diversity, says ex-Vogue boss

    Edward Enninful in a suit and bow tie
  • 'Ultimate in cancel culture': Fans outside Jimmy Kimmel studio react to show's axing

    Split image of man on the right and woman on the left outside Jimmy Kimmel studio in LA
  • 'Trump and circumstance' and 'Maddie suspect freed'

    A composite image of the front pages of Metro and the Daily Mirror. "Trump and circumstance" reads the headline of the former and "Maddie suspect freed" reads the latter.
  • Melania’s hat, a yellow dress and Kate’s golden gown - standout state visit looks

    Melania Trump wears a round purple  hat that covers the top half of her face, with out-of-focus soldiers in the background during the procession at Windsor Castle on Wednesday
  • Donald Trump's second UK state visit: Here's what we know

    King Charles and US President Donald Trump travel in a covered carriage during a procession at Windsor Castle on 17 September, on the first day of his second state visit to the UK.
  • Is the UK-France migrants returns deal workable?

    A group of people thought to be migrants are brought in to the Border Force compound in Dover, Kent, from a Border Force vessel following a small boat incident in the Channel on 9 September. The people getting off the boat are wearing life jackets.
  • Katty Kay: Why America is at a dangerous crossroads following the Charlie Kirk shooting

    A treated image of Charlie Kirk in front of the flag, with his hand pointing up
  • The frantic race to save Gaza’s historic treasures from Israeli bombs

    Boy sitting in rubble of historic site in Gaza
  • 'Day by day, year by year' - Borg on cancer diagnosis

    • Attribution
      Sport
    Bjorn Borg waits to serve during the 1980 Wimbledon final against John McEnroe
loading elsewhere stories

Most read

  1. 1

    Jimmy Kimmel taken off air over Charlie Kirk comments

  2. 2

    Macrons to offer 'scientific evidence' to US court to prove Brigitte is a woman, lawyer says

  3. 3

    Man dead and woman in hospital after park shooting

  4. 4

    Melania’s hat, a yellow dress and Kate’s golden gown - standout state visit looks

  5. 5

    What was on the menu and who was on guest list at state banquet?

  6. 6

    'Trump and circumstance' and 'Maddie suspect freed'

  7. 7

    'Day by day, year by year' - Borg on cancer diagnosis

    • Attribution
      Sport
  8. 8

    Katty Kay: Why America is at a dangerous crossroads following the Charlie Kirk shooting

  9. 9

    US firms pledge £150bn investment in UK, as Starmer hosts Trump

  10. 10

    Government to appeal against ruling blocking migrant deportation to France

BBC News Services

  • On your mobile
  • On smart speakers
  • Get news alerts
  • Contact BBC News

Best of the BBC

  • Stacey and Joe welcome you back to Pickle Cottage

    • Attribution
      iPlayer
    Stacey & Joe
  • What's the future of home parcel delivery?

    • Attribution
      Sounds
  • The state of the UK-US special relationship examined

    • Attribution
      iPlayer
    Panorama: Trump and Starmer
  • A couple's search for the Croydon cat killer

    • Attribution
      Sounds
    Illuminated: The Cat Killer Detectives
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • iPlayer
  • Sounds
  • Bitesize
  • CBBC
  • CBeebies
  • Food
  • Terms of Use
  • About the BBC
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookies
  • Accessibility Help
  • Parental Guidance
  • Contact the BBC
  • Make an editorial complaint
  • BBC emails for you

Copyright © 2025 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.