Why sexual harassment in the workplace is evil

[Major Nikon]

Sexual harassment in the workplace is defined in one of two ways. The first is the hostile work environment. It basically means you are subjecting an employee to an intimidating atmosphere of a sexual nature. This could include jokes, pictures, comments, or other things that are ongoing and severe. An occasional sex joke or profane comment does not clear that hurdle.

The next way is quid pro quo (this for that), which appears to be Cain's chosen MO. It means someone is trying to exchange workplace favors, or even their job itself, for sex. This is where the evil part really comes in (that's not to say it doesn't with hostile work environment, but that's another story). For many (if not most) people, their job is more than just a paycheck, but their identity. What the harasser is doing is effectively threatening to end not only that persons source of income, but in many cases their entire chosen career path, and perhaps even how they identify themselves. Standing up to this type of behavior is extremely difficult. EEOC claims or lawsuits can take many years to process. The victim almost never gets fully compensated for what they have lost, if they manage to get anything. I've seen the victims. They generally are left with emotional scars that never go away. And guess what happens to the perpetrator? Assuming the victim pursues the complaint, their company can be penalized by the EEOC, or be sued in civil court, but if the company doesn't hold the perpetrator responsible, absolutely nothing happens to them.

So let's say I drive someone out in the middle of nowhere and tell them if they don't have sex with me, they must get out of the car. Most states would consider this rape or at the very least some other felonious act of sexual coercion. However, if I coerce them with something many consider more valuable, the worst I can expect is a civil suit or EEOC complaint, and even that is an outside chance.

Cain needs to answer questions and the truth needs to come out. This isn't sending someone a picture of your dick who wants to see it. This isn't propositioning people in a public restroom. This type of behavior is evil, and the people need to know if Cain is evil.

[Initech]

1. Harassment of ANY KIND in the workplace is evil.

I don't care if it's sexual or verbal - it's evil nonetheless. I've worked in hostile work environments where the boss and/or my immediate supervisor was on a power trip - it is EVIL, and it can make a worker absolutely miserable. And the worst thing about verbal harassment is that it often seems to go unnoticed and the powers that be don't do shit about it.

Speaking of which - the department of labor IS USEFUL even if you don't intend to file a lawsuit. Verbal harassment isn't something to be taken lightly - it is a serious issue and if it's not addressed can have serious consequences. I don't know how it works in any state but in California - you can launch a complaint if you feel you are in a hostile work environment and they will investigate accordingly. They are a valuable resource - and anyone who feels like that should put them to use.

[NYC_SKP]

2. Harrassment of Any Kind ANYWHERE is evil...

At school, by family members, at public places or sporting events.

It is hostile, it is frightening, and it is evil.

[Initech]

3. Amen to that.

[Major Nikon]

6. There's all sorts of ways an employer can do evil things

Using fraudulent methods to deny employees pay and benefits would be another example. Trading worker safety for profit is another.

I'm just targeting sexual harassment in my OP because it's relevant to Cain and because many in the media seem to be minimizing what was going on by comparing it to other political scandals.

[femrap]

4. IF he's evil.....

please. How many women do you need to come forward that show that is an evil lecher.

[Major Nikon]

7. Personally I have no doubt he's guilty

But it's too easy for some to dismiss what has already come forward, by simply saying he's a target because he's in the spotlight.

That's why this needs thorough investigation, and that's why Cain should either cooperate with that investigation until it's run its full course, or he should be hounded relentlessly until he goes away. There shouldn't be a 3rd option.

[femrap]

8. Just think if

Hillary had been accused of hitting on some dude...everything would be so different.

On DU, she was villified during the Primary. Many intelligent women were banned from here during that time. I stopped coming here or I probably would have banned as well. I was shocked at the hatred toward women.

[MarianJack]

5. Sexual Harrassmsnt is downright EVIL.

When I used to be a supervisor in mental health programs through most of the 80s & 90s, there were about 3 or 4 women under my supervision at varied times whom I'd have loved to (respectfully) ask for dates. I never did because I didn't want there to be any chance of any accusatioins.

One time, after I'd resigned one position to go to another, I asked one of these ladies for a date since I wasn't her supervisor anymore. She sais that I should have asked her earlier because she'd just started seing someone else a few weeks before after coming to the conclusion that I wasn't as interested in her as she was in me!

No regrets though, as I've been married to the most wonderful woman in the world for 13+ years now.

PEACE!

[JoeyT]

9. It's a power balance issue.

That's why it's wrong to even proposition someone working under you. Even if you have no intention of retaliation if refused, the woman or man you're propositioning has absolutely no way of knowing that.

The non-workplace equivalent would be asking someone for a date while cleaning your fingernails with a knife. Sure YOU know you just like having nice clean fingernails and might never think of it that way, but it's going to come across to the other person as "Say yes or I'll cut you.".