The required reading this week was interesting and disturbing at the same time. I thought that I would recognize sexual harassment in the work environment but I didn’t realize that there are two categories. I assumed that quid pro quo was synonymous with sexual harassment but as our text explains that is only one category. Movies like ‘Disclosure’ with Demi Moore and Michael Douglas show how sex can be used as a tool for power (1). This movie deviated from the stereotype that just females could experience sexual harassment but it stayed true with showing how the victim felt threatened.
The second category, hostile environment, is broader and could include lewd remarks and/or unwelcome touching (Wood 296). This harassment may also exist when one sex is disrespected, demeaned, ignored, and told that he or she is not welcome. What I didn’t realize was that a single act even if unwelcome and inappropriate might not meet the legal criteria of sexual harassment. Pattern has to be established.
Years ago at a former company that I worked for, the CEO created a hostile work environment. I used to think that the problem was that he managed by intimidation because he yelled and screamed and you never knew what would set him off. After reading Chapter 12, I realize that in reality, his actions went beyond intimidation. Personally, I was never exposed to his sexual intimidation because I worked from home and rarely went into the office but other women used to discuss how he would walk around the office stopping at each person’s cube. For the women employees he would come up behind them and many times massage their shoulders and make comments like ‘What have you done for me today?” He was slick enough to than focus the conversation on actual work but females couldn’t wait until he moved from their cubes. When there were different company functions and alcohol was flowing, he would often steer the conversation toward inappropriate sexual topics like Brazilian waxing. No one ever complained to management and it became like an inside joke. When employees would meet in the breakroom, the CEO’s inappropriate behavior would come up in conversation but was accepted as the norm. Than things changed when a woman employee was fired for well-documented poor performance but in her eyes the reasons were not justified so she was pissed. She didn’t have a leg to stand on regarding her performance but she tried the next best thing. She filed charges of sexual harassment against the CEO personally and the company as a whole. The company’s lawyers met with some of the female employees who were named as witnesses but these women didn’t want to get involved because they still were employed with the company and wanted to keep it that way. This then brings us back to the pattern of behavior. None could be established so the lawsuit was eventually dropped. One positive change did occur due to this incident and that was the behavior of the CEO. He learned to keep his hands and comments to himself. I was amazed though that his pattern of behavior went on as long as it did even when the females were given the opportunity to stop his harassment.
1) http://www.sexualharassmentlawfirms.com/resources/sexual-harassment/sexual-harassment-claims/for-men.htm
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Wow that had to be very stressful for the women who worked with him. I could not image someone invading my personal space and talking in that manner. I wonder why they let it go for so long. I guess maybe they thought their job may be in jeopardy but I wouldn't care. That is a hostile work environment. The sad thing is it is very hard to prove. But I am glad that at the very least it stopped his behavior.
ReplyDeleteWk 3 - Response to Dana
ReplyDeleteDana,
Isn’t it funny that before this class you wouldn’t have thought twice about your boyfriend’s move and the gender stereotyping. There are times, like this move, that we may use our gender as an advantage so I guess we are guilty of reinforcing the stereotype. Like you, I know my limitations regarding my physical strength so nothing would have been accomplished if you pushed the issue just to make a point and you ended up hurting yourself. Your blog made me look more deeply into the difference in physical strength between males and females and I think that what I found should make you feel better. “Men are 10 – 15% larger than women and 30% physically stronger especially in the upper body” (1). Weight, shape, size and anatomy are not political opinions but rather tangible and easily measured (2). There will be many more opportunities for you to express your disagreement when it comes to stereotyping the female gender so in your boyfriend’s recent move I see nothing wrong with you recognizing your limitations and helping where you could.
1) http://blisstree.com/feel/5-physical-differences-between-women-and-men/
2) http://www.oregoncounseling.org/ArticlesPapers/Documents/DifferencesMenWomen.htm
Wk 3 - Response to Michele
ReplyDeleteMichele,
I’m guilty of enjoying ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ too. While watching the early shows of the season when tryouts take place in select cities across the country, the producers of ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ focus on the entertainment factor. Any dancers that are different and touch on the emotions of viewers are going to be good television so of course these snippets will not end up on the cutting room floor. Regarding your comment that your interns made, I think that dance shows reinforce the gender stereotype. The male dancer should be strong and controlling and the female dancer should have flowing movement and be the follower. I found an interesting comment by Nigel Lythgoe, who is one of the judges on SYTYCD, when he was asked why the show doesn’t have any out gay contestants. Lythgoe stated, “I’m never worried if anybody’s gay. What I don’t like on the dance show, to be frank, is effeminate boys that mince around the stage. I don’t care if they’re gay or straight. Lythgoe continued, “Because they need to be very strong. Dancing is role-playing most of the time. And you need to be strong and lift girls. You need to look stronger than the girl you’re dancing with. You control the dance, especially in ballroom”. Lythgoe seems to be confusing effeminate with weakness.
http://www.afterelton.com/blog/michaeljensen/nigel-lythgoe-gay-men-effeminate-dancers