Moi Aussi

Moi aussi is one of the few French phrases I remember from French class, oh-so-many years ago. It means “me too” in English.

“Me too” has become a common phrase (not to mention a movement and a hashtag #MeToo) in English. You have heard it, and probably said it, a million times. It isn’t a complete sentence, but it generally serves as one.

I want a chocolate ice cream cone. Me too. But is it grammatically correct? Shouldn’t it be I also or I too? And should there be a comma before too?

Sometimes it should be I also or I too –– grammatically speaking.  How do you know when to use which? The rule is the same as in some comparisons; you have to supply the missing (assumed) words:

She likes pizza more than me. She likes pizza more than she likes me?  Well, probably not. But if she did, it would be correct to use me.

She likes pizza more than me. She likes pizza more than I like pizza? That is probably what is meant. So, She likes pizza more than I do would be correct.

Now let’s look at me too.

I want a chocolate ice cream cone. Me too –  Me wants one too?  Or I want one too, or I want one also? In this case, me too is fine to use colloquially, but it isn’t grammatically correct. The correct response is I too or I want one also, etc.

She invited me for dinner tomorrow night. Me too – She invited me too. In this case, me too is correct.

Now, what about the comma? Is there a comma before too or also?

Here is the current ruling on that one: 

• I, too, want a chocolate ice cream cone.
• I want a chocolate ice cream cone too.

No comma is needed before too at the end of a sentence.

So do the French call the Me Too Movement Moi Aussi? Maybe some do, but the more common name for it in France is #BalanceTonPorc, meaning out your pig.

The “me too” movement was begun in 2006 by survivor and New York women’s activist Tarana Burke. She wanted to support women who were victims of sexual abuse and to let them know they were not alone. 

Time Magazine named Burke Person of the Year in 2017.

Actors Ashley Judd and Rose McGowan came forward in 2017 to speak about Harvey Weinstein and abuse in Hollywood. Alyssa Milano joined in the cause.

Here are some statistics:

• Nationwide, 81% of women and 43% of men reported experiencing some form of sexual harassment or assault, according to a 2018 study conducted by the University of California and the non-profit Stop Street Harassment.
• Sexual abuse often leads to substance use, suicide, psychiatric disorders such as PTSD, and other negative outcomes.
• After Milano’s tweet using the hashtag #metoo to raise awareness of the movement, Twitter users posted the hashtag almost a million times within two days. The movement spilled over to Facebook where about 4.7 million users shared 12 million posts in fewer than 24 hours.
• 53% of women ages 30 to 49 say they support the movement, which is not statistically different from the 47% of men that age who say the same. Some 48% of 50- to 64-year-old women say they support the #MeToo movement – greater than the 36% share of men in this age group who say the same.
• About one-in-five adults overall (21%) say they have not heard of the #MeToo movement. This share is greater among Black and Hispanic adults.
• Today, the phrase #MeToo is still a sign of solidarity for victims of sexual harassment and assault.