#TIMESUP

What Does #TIMESUP Mean?

The Quick Answer

#TIMESUP means "TIME'S UP FOR SEXUAL ABUSE."

More Detail...

On 1 January 2018, more than 300 women in Hollywood (including executives, actors, agents, writers, directors, and producers), launched the #TIMESUP campaign with the message "TIME'S UP FOR SEXUAL ABUSE." The stated aim of #TIMESUP is to counter systemic sexism in industries across the United States. The launch of #TIMESUP was announced through ads in the New York Times and the Spanish Language newspaper La Opinion. The #TIMESUP initiative grew out of the #METOO campaign and includes efforts to create legislation that will penalize companies that tolerate harassment. It will also discourage the use of the types of nondisclosure agreements that have been used to silence victims of sexual abuse. The mission of #TIMESUP is not only to reach gender parity, but also to connect victims of sexual harassment with legal representation through a legal defense arm that will be administered by the National Women's Law Center's Legal Network for Gender Equity. The #TIMESUP campaign includes participation from many of Hollywood's most powerful female voices, among them Meryl Streep, Emma Stone, Emma Watson, Susan Sarandon, Laura Dern, Michelle Williams, Jennifer Lawrence, Reese Witherspoon, Natalie Portman and Ava DuVernay. However, #TIMESUP is officially leaderless. It is run by volunteers and comprised of working groups.

Image for #TIMESUP

When I write #TIMESUP, I mean this:

Hollywood stars wore black to the Golden Globe awards in
January 2018, in support of the #TIMESUP campaign.

Summary of Key Points

"TIME'S UP FOR SEXUAL ABUSE" is, by far, the most common meaning for #TIMESUP when it is used in a text. (Bear in mind that it could have another meaning if used in a different context.)

#TIMESUP
Definition:	TIME'S UP FOR SEXUAL ABUSE
Type:	Internet Slang Term
Guessability:	3: Guessable
Typical Users:	Adults and Teenagers

Examples of #TIMESUP in Sentences

Here are examples of #TIMESUP in conversations:

Charlie: My boss is such a creep! He's always making excuses to get me on my own.
Jordan: If you can't go to HR, you need to get in touch with #TIMESUP.

Charlie: The guys in our office all get paid more than me and they don't even have my qualifications or experience.
Jordan: Check out #TIMESUP. They will help.

An Academic Look at #TIMESUP

#TIMESUP is a hashtag, i.e., a word or phrase preceded by a hash sign (#). Hashtags are used on social media sites and apps, especially Twitter, to identify messages on a specific topic. Searching for messages with a specific hashtag will show each message that has been tagged with it.

What Did We Say before Texting and Social Media?

Before the digital era, the hashtag #TIMESUP didn't exist. However, there have been many campaigns over the years with the message "TIME'S UP FOR SEXUAL ABUSE."