In the wake of revelations about film producer Harvey Weinstein, millions of women across America have been sharing their stories about sexual harassment in the workplace. Many of the experiences have been shared under the hashtag #MeToo.
PBS recently took a look at what impact the stories are having on people. For many, it appears that the #MeToo tales are making it clear that sexual harassment isn’t confined to the casting couch or boardrooms, but that it exists in offices, factories, job interviews, restaurants, stores and more across the nation.
Fatima Goss Graves, president of the Women’s Law Center, said sexual harassment “infects industries across the board, whether you’re high-wage jobs, low-wage jobs, male-dominated fields, but also female-dominated fields.” Graves said harassment and retaliation are prevalent in the food service industry — a line of work, she noted, that is not male-dominant.
Lisa Senecal of the Vermont Women’s Commission said the #MeToo stories are important, but that no one should feel compelled to share anything they’re not yet comfortable in sharing. She said harassment is happening across all industries and that it will continue until men and women take action and make it stop.
Goss added that people often endure sexual “harassment in the shadows.” She said the behavior commonly goes unreported because employees “think their employers won’t do anything, or, worse, that (employees) would experience retaliation.”
“But employees could make a difference,” she said, by reporting harassment and by speaking out.
The Milwaukee employment law firm of Alan C. Olson & Associates can help you to stop harassment, retaliation and discrimination. Contact us for more information about protecting your rights and career.
