I would like to say that I cannot even begin to fathom what it's like to be subjected to sexual harassment in the workplace. But I can. To the extent that some have tragically had to face, no. But traumatic none the less, especially as it was piled atop a personal history of being a victim of sexual assault.
In my teens, I worked part time in a discount retail establishment. My boss/manager, Mrs. Farrow, had a husband who would just show up out of the blue or accompany her on her occasional Saturdays in the store. Let me say that "Pete" truly epitomized the 'hands on' work ethic. There wasn't a single time when I was doing receiving work in the back room that he didn't come in there and need to lean over me, into me, or what I termed an "oops sorry" aka he let his hands slide against the top I was wearing, in the purported attempt to reach something that was just above me. Thankfully, this is the furthest it ever went for me but, sadly for others it has been worse and often times to degradation and denigrating levels.
The Me-Too campaign, has shown a bright light onto this issue, affixing it permanently upon the decades of abuse that women and men have undergone in seeking to obtain work, keep their jobs, or progress forward in their careers. Actors in tinsel-town have come forward with their own stories of the proverbial casting couches or similar types of events and the retribution and retaliation that has been shoved out there for those who did not comply. This is not anything new.
This, as in other workplace areas, has indeed been going on for decades and those who knew but did not speak up, are complicit. Yes, I understand the need "to keep working" and "hang onto" one's job. But to know of abuse and say nothing; to know of rape, manipulation or coercion using sex (also rape) and to say nothing makes one duplicitous and a party to the crime(s) committed. It's no different than the atrocious silence of the Catholic bishops in in the face of similar actions by clergy and religious. Where are the jokes now? Hopefully hidden and demolished for this should NEVER EVER be fodder. Nor should it ever be used as a headline grabber. If we're going to abhor said actions we need to abhor all of them wherever they may be and shine light exposing the trolls to the light of day. We can no longer sweep any of it under the rug or swoosh it away with a defense of "locker room" talk.
Whether it's a business professional, shop keeper, restauranteur, clergy, doctor, lawyer, or studio chief, it's time that this drama, this play, this tragedy, have the curtain come down - finally and completely. Victims have to approach the situation as best they feel able to deal with it, when they are comfortable confronting it. But to be witness, to know that such perversities and abuse are occurring and staying silent in the face of potentially more victims is just as reprehensible and renders one equally as complicit and culpable. For goodness sake, as least give someone a clue, a heads-up, or an admonition of treading carefully. Don't roll out the red carpet for trolls, yank it out from under them.
Let's Have a Dialog.
