There have been two big stories in the news recently about sexual harassment:
* American presidential hopeful Herman Cain
* Allegations of members of the RCMP, especially Catherine Galliford
It would be easy for those of us lucky enough to work in respectful environments to be under the impression that workplace sexual harassment was rapidly (and happily) becoming a thing of the past. These stories, however, make it clear that the problem persists; while allegations in both stories have taken some time to come to light, all of the incidents in question are by no means ancient history. And they both raise a lot of questions: Why do these incidents and allegations persist in what is supposedly an increasingly enlighted and egalitarian world? Is a para-military, rigidly hierarchical structure partly (or mostly) to blame? Are the women involved being too sensitive, or are the men involved being too insensitive? What’s the best way to deal with these kinds of allegations? 
The Globe and Mail published a somehow simultaneously pointed and yet tongue-in-cheek opinion piece this weekend by Tabatha Southey that we enjoyed and thought we should share. It’s called “Lighten up, ladies! Sexual harassment, sexual shmarassment, right?“, and it begins with Herman Cain’s comment, “I do have a sense of humour — some people have a problem with that.” Check it out here.
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Update: Here‘s another opinion piece, this one from the New York Times, written by Katie Roiphe and taking a very different approach workplace sexual harassment. It’s called “In Favour of Dirty Jokes and Risque Remarks.”
Give them both a read and let us know what you think!
It’s so unfortunate that sexual harassment still occurs in the workplace, and especially in places where it is expected people be professionals, like the RCMP! These people aren’t 15 year olds working at McDonalds (not that it would be acceptable to be sexually harassed working at McDonalds when you’re 15), but these people are supposed to be adults and you would think a sense of maturity and knowing what is appropriate and what is not would go along with the idea that you aren’t a child/teenager anymore.
I have to say I found the “Lighten up, ladies! Sexual harassment, sexual shmarassment, right?“ article amusing. Again the fact that articles like this still need to be written and that this issue still needs to be dealt with is not amusing, but I thought the way the author of the article dealt with the allegation of women lacking a sense of humour to be very humorous. I would love for the next time anyone is sexually harassed in their place of employment to use one of the humorous techniques suggested in the article. My favourite idea is probably the one that says you should respond by saying: “Jon, you’re a riot! That’s so funny! Someone should totally book you to do children’s parties!”
As to the second article, I have to say that it’s not that you can’t have fun at work or crack a joke, but that a place of employment is completely different than hanging out with friends (not that friends want to be sexually harassed either). I think work and work related functions should have a certain level of professionalism that accompanies them. Now I don’t think professionalism should have to be synonymous with dull, uptight and boring, but I do think comments, jokes, mannerism etc. need to be kept respectful, not everything needs to be rated R.