legal words
The #MeToo Movement
UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL
We have all heard men describe the workplace climate
during and following the initial foray of the
#MeToo movement as being a “scary place for a
man.” This was particularly the case when they witnessed
the spike in the number of sexual harassment allegations
being made, including those from decades prior. The aged allegations
heightened concerns as they surely occurred at a time when
the workplace standards of conduct were far different from today’s
and were likely now impossible to investigate given the passage
of time.
As a result, many men were examining all of their previous
workplace conduct fearing that an allegation would be raised
against them and that they would be faced with one of two swift
outcomes: their employer would summarily terminate their
employment or they would be tried in the court of public opinion
– without due process. In tandem, they began to excessively monitor
their workplace conduct, including ceasing to mentor female
employees and avoiding having any one-on-one meetings with
women given a growing climate of distrust and unease between
the sexes. They feared the mighty wrath of social media and/or
their employer’s fear of such wrath, which in any event would
likely result in the irreparable tarnishing of their reputations and
the annihilation of their careers, regardless of their innocence or
guilt and the veracity of the allegations.
The #MeToo movement has positively brought to our public
consciousness and the forefront of our social discourse the fact
that workplace sexual harassment remains a major and systemic
workplace problem across all industries and that it is not just a
“women’s issue.” Further, the #MeToo movement removed much
of the stigma surrounding coming forward with sexual harassment
allegations, including those that went long unreported.
However, alongside these positives there is a carelessness
with respect to the impact of the words being used in this social
discourse. This carelessness adds a layer of stigma given its overinclusion
of all forms of sexual harassment in the definition of sexual
violence; there are degrees and continuums. Workplace sexual
By Sheryl L. Johnson
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HRPROFESSIONALNOW.CA ❚ JULY 2018 ❚ 11
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