Weighing in on the Kavanaugh confirmation with Exhibit A. The debate surrounding the confimation proceedings as the allegations of inappropriate behavior have surfaced seem to be whether (at least in my neck of the woods) Ford is telling the truth or not considering the amount of time since the alleged sexual assault. I just thought I would relate what it is like to be a woman in the good 'ol US of A with regard to speaking out.
Yesterday, myself, another female faculty member, and our female office manager were sitting in the vestibule of our suite of offices discussing the televised Kavanaugh confirmation, and sharing our thoughts and opinions of the allegations. No one was around except our department chair who was in his office right off the vestibule. After about 10 minutes, he came out of his office and said, "Ladies, I'm going to ask you to take this conversation elsewhere as this is a public place, and this is not an appropriate conversation for a public area."
The other female faculty member then said, "Well we'll just end the conversation." We went to our respective offices and back to work.
Let me just summarize this for you. Three professional females discussing the subject of sexual assault, specifically how hard it is for victims to come forward, were silenced by their white, male leader stating their "opinions on a public event" were not "appropriate conversation in a public area."
Exhibit A - the silencing of women in America. It's real.
I was so mad yesterday at being treated this way, and also at how I acquiesced in response.
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8 comments
Feel free to reply to any comment by clicking the "Reply" button.Of course you reported him immediately as violating your free speech rights and harassing women for behavior that would have been ignored if you'd been men.
Confrontation with legal backing impacts white male privilege - otherwise it's Mad Men all over again.
birdingnut
Level 8
Sep 29, 2018
0
Sounds like he has affection for (or is himself) someone who has been accused of inappropriate behavior, and the conversation bothered him. Your conversations seemed appropriate for the workplace, as an HR topic. If he doesn't support the conversation, perhaps he is one to watch out for "inappropriate behavior" in the future.
Times have changed... workplace sexual harassment and inappropriate behavior happened all the time before the '80's, but there was definitely a change in women standing up against that behavior in the '80's through the present. Men who acted that way and can't own up to it and apologize as well as change are pretending it didn't happen. That is sad.
Julie808
Level 8
Sep 29, 2018
0
I'd Be pissed as well and do something about it. I would report his controlling behavior to human resources. Don't let the bastard treat you that way.
sassygirl3869
Level 9
Sep 29, 2018
0
He's guilty or would have agreed to FBI search.
Marine
Level 8
Sep 29, 2018
0
hes had 6 FBI background checks already - hes got nothing to fear but ignorance.
Oh please Dr Ford Is a liar - she conviently doesn't know when it happened because Brett could prove that he wasn't there.
She good - but I can see right though her lies.
Yes it is true. Since the moral majority came to the WH under Reagan, they have evolved into a bunch of white nationalist commanded by men. All straight white men are the ones who know a god that loves them and made them superior. As for me I want a world run by women. Just think of the progress we as a species could make. Women are the saving grace of male stupidity. I remember being a young college boy and getting hammered, Wow was the testosterone level high. The way we treated responsibility and rational thought was disgusting. Fortunately I never did buy into the male superior thing and that made me a real man latter on in years. I see the truth and not the dick/
EMC2
Level 8
Sep 29, 2018
1
Stig:
I've tried working in teams run by women and dominated by women co-workers twice. It was horrible. The teams were in chaos and the leader was terrorizing everybody. Lots of time was spent on discussions that went nowhere. The interpersonal contact lost value, dignity and respect. Both places became horrible to work in and several of the women confessed to me that they would rather work with and for men.
I'm not pretending that what you experienced in this situation with the white male was any good. I also do not pretend that lots of the things that come up about men misusing their positions (Matt Lauer, Harvey Weinstein and all the other men who try to misuse their position to get sexual advantages) are any good - by no means. I'm just saying that it's not clear that female leadership is great.
Stig:
@linxminx I understand. I would probably have felt the same way.
Thanks for sharing your insight from a previous work experience - though sorry that it has happened to you too. From a previous work place in a large company I had friends who suffered horribly and even experienced their car being damaged with the prime suspect being the female manager.
I one had a person reporting to me who said: "It's not just about picking the right job - it's also about picking the right manager". She no longer works for me but our work relationship developed into a friendship.
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