Ryan’s Journal: #Metoo in the workplace
by Ryan Pew
As many of you are aware the news this week has been dominated by the allegations against Harvey Weinstein and his sexual harassment and assaults on a variety of women.
As we learn more about what has occurred a new movement has started, #metoo. Women who have been harassed, assaulted, or worse are speaking up. Some for the first time.
As I have read through some of the posts of my personal friends and spoken to my wife, I am realizing this is much more rampant than I thought.
It has lead to some interesting discussions at work with my colleagues that I never imagined I would have. Most of the women I have spoken with have a story. Perhaps it was flirting that went beyond welcomed attention, an off-hand comment and in one case full-on assault.
It was heartbreaking to hear, as well as enlightening.
One thing I learned today, though, is the other ways women in the workplace have to cope.
In two separate conversations today I learned how my female colleagues have had to deal with aggressive men, misogamy or simple brush offs.
I am in the IT sector and the women in the technical roles have dealt with from not being taken seriously to not being trusted simply because of their gender.
I write all of this as a testament of how we as a society must do better.
I am still amazed that we can pick out the differences amongst each other, differences that we have zero control over, and tear one another down.
The fact that we allow gender to dictate how we should treat one another is shocking.
I am not naive enough to think that we can all just get along, however if we claim to be enlightened, then perhaps we should act like it.
Image credit: @UltraViolet
