What Is the Times Up Movement in Brief
The Times Up movement is an organized effort launched in early 2018 to combat workplace sexual harassment and assault, and to advance equity for women in the workplace. It was created by a broad coalition of entertainment industry professionals, advocates, and organizations with deep experience in policy, legal work, and survivor support. The initiative focuses on legal defense, public policy reform, education, and shifting culture within industries where harassment has long been underreported. Unlike short-lived publicity moments, Times Up is structured as sustained advocacy and support work intended to outlast any single moment in news cycles.
Origins and Launch Context
Times Up emerged in the wake of the #MeToo movement’s surge in late 2017, when numerous people in entertainment and other fields began speaking publicly about sexual misconduct. Its formation was driven by leaders in film, television, music, law, and activism who sought to convert public outrage into durable systems-level change. The effort was coordinated by a core team of organizers familiar with policy advocacy, litigation, and survivor-centered work, rather than being a top-down initiative from any single celebrity or corporation. From the outset, the movement aimed to complement grassroots activism with institutional resources and legal infrastructure.
Core Goals of the Movement
At a high level, Times Up pursues three interconnected aims: supporting survivors, reforming laws and workplace policies, and shifting culture to prevent abuse before it occurs. Its work is organized around these pillars, ensuring that short-term assistance and long-term structural change proceed together. The movement emphasizes collaboration with legal experts, labor organizations, and advocacy groups to make sure that initiatives are grounded in expertise and practical experience. By pairing public messaging with on-the-ground resources, Times Up seeks to make workplaces safer and more equitable over time.
Supporting Survivors Through Legal and Advocacy Resources
One of the movement’s most visible components is a legal defense fund that provides financial and logistical support to individuals who have experienced harassment or assault in the workplace. This includes funding for legal counsel, crisis management, and other forms of assistance that remove economic barriers to pursuing justice. The fund also backs policy experts and organizers working to change laws and institutional practices. By centering survivor needs and lowering barriers to action, this pillar attempts to redress power imbalances that often silence victims.
Advancing Public Policy and Legislative Change
Times Up has engaged in lobbying and coalition-building to strengthen laws that protect workers from harassment and to close loopholes that have enabled exploitation. This includes backing nondisclosure agreements that do not silence survivors, pushing for stronger enforcement of existing protections, and advocating for workplace standards that make reporting safer and more effective. The movement has worked at both national and state levels, recognizing that policy landscapes differ across jurisdictions. These policy efforts are framed as necessary complements to cultural change, rather than alternative solutions.
Shifting Culture and Industry Practices
Beyond legal and policy work, Times Up focuses on transforming everyday behavior and decision-making within industries. This includes consultations with companies on harassment prevention training, clearer reporting channels, and accountability mechanisms. The movement encourages creators, producers, and executives to examine how power operates in their organizations and to address patterns that enable misconduct. By linking cultural narratives with concrete operational changes, Times Up aims to reduce the conditions that allow harassment to persist.
Organizational Structure and Governance
Times Up operates as a network of initiatives under a unified public identity, rather than a single monolithic entity. It includes multiple funds and working groups focused on different regions, industries, and goals, such as legal defense, policy advocacy, and workplace transformation. Governance involves a broad advisory council with representatives from legal, labor, and advocacy backgrounds, ensuring that decisions reflect a range of expertise and lived experience. This distributed structure is designed to foster resilience and long-term continuity beyond any individual or organization.
Key Funds and Financial Mechanisms
The movement oversees several dedicated funds, including a legal defense and support fund that covers urgent needs related to harassment cases. There are also workplace transformation grants intended to help organizations implement better policies and training. Financial oversight is handled in coordination with experienced legal and philanthropic partners to ensure responsible stewardship. Transparency about funding sources and allocations is emphasized to maintain public trust and enable informed participation.
Partnerships and Coalition Building
Times Up collaborates with established legal organizations, unions, civil rights groups, and survivor-led initiatives to maximize impact. These partnerships allow the movement to draw on specialized knowledge, expand its reach, and avoid duplicating existing efforts. By working alongside groups that have long experience in labor rights, racial justice, and disability advocacy, Times Up positions its work within broader struggles for dignity and equity. Such coalitions also help align messaging and strategy across different communities and sectors.
Impact and Ongoing Work
Since its launch, Times Up has contributed to a larger ecosystem of advocacy around workplace equity, helping to sustain attention on harassment and misconduct beyond short-lived headlines. Its legal fund has supported numerous individuals in pursuing claims, while its policy work has informed legislative efforts in multiple jurisdictions. The movement’s cultural initiatives have encouraged organizations to examine their practices more critically. Although challenges remain, including resource constraints and uneven progress across industries, Times Up continues to operate as a long-term effort rather than a reactive campaign.
Documented Outcomes and Areas of Focus
While precise metrics can be difficult to capture in a rapidly evolving movement, Times Up tracks several key indicators of impact, including funding allocations, policy changes advanced, and the number of individuals directly supported. The following table summarizes select verified attributes of the movement’s work to date.
| Attribute | Verified Detail | Source Type |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Launch Year | 2018 | Public announcements and organizational statements |
| Core Pillars | Survivor Support, Policy Advocacy, Cultural Change | Official mission and program descriptions |
| Main Funding Mechanisms | Legal defense fund, workplace transformation grants | Public financial reports and disclosures |
| Geographic Scope | Primarily U.S.-focused, with select international partnerships | Program materials and partner listings |
| Accountability Approach | d>Public reporting, advisory oversight, third-party evaluations where available | Governance documents and independent summaries |
Comparison with Related Efforts
It is helpful to distinguish Times Up from other initiatives that also address harassment and equity, in order to understand its specific role. While there is overlap in goals, differences in structure, focus, and operational methods clarify how each effort contributes to the broader landscape. No single campaign can address every dimension of workplace harm, and many organizers see value in parallel strategies that reach different audiences or sectors.
| Aspect | Times Up | Me Too Movement | Union and Labor Organizing on Harassment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary Focus | Legal defense, policy advocacy, cultural change in industries | Public awareness, survivor storytelling, community building | Workplace bargaining, contract enforcement, institutional change |
| Main Tactics | Funds, lobbying, industry partnerships | Social media, narrative shift, grassroots storytelling | Collective bargaining, grievances, legislative lobbying via unions |
| Organizational Form | Network of initiatives under a shared banner | Decentraled, leaderful movement with many local efforts | Formal organizations tied to labor unions and worker centers |
| Resource Mechanisms | Legal and transformation grants, fundraising | Donations, volunteer-led campaigns | Union dues, negotiated benefits, legal support structures |
Ongoing Relevance and Considerations
As organizational priorities evolve and legal landscapes shift, the Times Up movement continues to adapt while staying grounded in its founding mission. Questions about funding sustainability, representation across industries, and long-term governance are common in evaluating any multi-year advocacy effort. Supporters and critics alike acknowledge that durable cultural and legal change requires years of coordinated work, and that no movement can single-handedly solve deeply embedded problems. Times Up remains part of a broader continuum of efforts to advance safety, equity, and accountability in work and public life.
Summary
In summary, the Times Up movement is a sustained initiative that translates public concern about workplace harassment into concrete legal, policy, and cultural strategies. It is not a fleeting campaign but an organized effort to build infrastructure that supports survivors, influences law, and reshapes professional norms. By maintaining multiple avenues of work and collaborating with a wide range of partners, Times Up aims to deliver measurable, long-term improvements in workplace equity and safety.