Newstalk is currently exploring the 20 most influential moments of the last two decades - and today we're looking at the #MeToo movement.
Social Democrats TD Holly Cairns says it was an awakening moment for women.
But she told The Pat Kenny Show that there is still a lot more to be done.
"Most men are feminists - sometimes we hear a very loud minority, and that can give us a very bad impression… but it's certainly not the case.
"Initially it was brought about to empower women through empathy, especially young and vulnerable women.
"When prominent women came forward to highlight their stories… it really showed the scale of the problem - which is important - and equally important was it inspired other victims and survivours to tell their story, and made them feel able to do that".
She described it as "an awakening moment" that meant girls and women felt they could come forward.
But she said more has to change.
"We have lots of figures and data - really staggering data - about the amount of sexual assaults, rape and sexual abuse in Ireland and worldwide.
"But we know that it's probably not even that accurate because so many victims don't even want to come forward."
"We have so much work to do, because we can't keep expecting victims to defy the odds when they're still so stacked up against them.
"The #MeToo movement has done so much, but we still have so far to go."
Consent education
She said social media has good and bad sides to it with a campaign like this.
"Social media, for all its benefits, has a lot of cons as well - it did provide that platform and made people feel like they weren't alone."
"We also see how it can not work in our favour.
"We saw the recent scandal around image-based sexual abuse… social media has sort of facilitated that as well, and that comes back to consent too".
Deputy Cairns said issues around consent should be taught right through the education system instead of by "students unions in universities".
"It's so important that when consent isn't present that the law steps in."
She added: "Our laws and our politics have to keep up with society, and at the moment they're just about doing it".
"We just have so far to go".
'A broader issue'
Lorna Fitzpatrick is the president of the Union of Students in Ireland (USI).
She said everyone, and not just an older generation, can learn from this.
"I don't think it's necessarily just down to a generational thing - I think there is a broader issue.
"I think Holly referenced it with the end of image-based sexual abuse.
"It's not that we're looking at one particular generation or one particular cohort of people.
"I think we need to all have a growth experience here in terms of our understanding and awareness - and also our recognition of what is right and what is wrong."
She said supports also need to be in place to help people "to get to that place".
She added that consent classes can be a big help.
"I think the vast majority of students are on a learning journey with this - but the vast majority are very clued in and very aware as to what is right and what is wrong".
"I think the educational element - such as the consent classes - really help to achieve that".
