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After #MeToo, U.S. women reporting less workplace harassment

16 Comments
By Lin Taylor

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I second Burning Bush. My male coworkers and I now only talk to the women in the office if we absolutely have to. I read about one company in which the non-senior men had their own, unofficial Christmas party because they didn’t want to risk mingling with the women at the official party.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Ladies and gentlemen, roll up roll up and observe above, two examples of men who don't know the difference between having a conversation, flirting, and harassing. Aren't they great, folks!

0 ( +5 / -5 )

I can see both sides if the issue.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Years ago I was involved in organizing a press show of a new movie, Ms A said to me that director B had placed his hand on her breast right there at the party. ...the police came to view the video taken at the party looking for some criminal (unrelated to MsA) and I watched the whole video and at no time did this man place a hand on her

Since he was a director, likely she was flirting with him (perhaps to get a movie part) and when he rejected her, she came crying about "harassment".

I hope criminal charges were brought against her since the video proves that she is a liar.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

In this climate, any man looking for a romantic partner at the office is playing with fire.

Yeah, men who don't know how to approach a woman in a respectful manner are most definitely playing with fire if they try.

While it's unfortunate that it requires a certain level of social adeptness to be able to make an unsuccessful attempt to move a relationship from work to love not causing a #metoo situation in the process, thereby meaning many men should err on the side of caution, the opposite would be to allow a situation where women have to continually fend off advances from socially inept men, when they should be able to just focus on work.

Many men seem to be complaining that they aren't able to hit on women with impunity anytime/anywhere they want anymore. I'm not sure what exactly their complaint with this is. Anyone?

2 ( +3 / -1 )

I recently went to the Canadian offices of one of our clients. The building had a security guard and required signing in and out with a member of the staff. My client was a nice tall blond lady. As I was there for a couple of days, we formed a bit of a friendship, and I was asking her about how things are in offices these days.

She told me a story about one of her coworkers. She said he was recently divorced, and she had treated him nicely at work, and it seems he misread it. She got a message from him on Facebook one night, telling her she should come over to his house, and what to wear. No chat leading to flirting leading to this, just an out-of-the-blue message. It freaked her out, so she just ignored it. A few days later he sent an apology message, which she also ignored. She actually shut down her Facebook account soon after and does not use it anymore. She has never talked with him directly about it, but said it makes her uncomfortable.

She's clearly a compassionate person. She was nice to the guy in the first place (a situation he misread), and she didn't report him for what he had done. But now she has to work with this guy in an uncomfortable situation, because this guy was socially not very able, and didn't know how to approach this girl. I asked if she would have been open to it had he dealt with it in a better manner. She said no, he's not her type, but had he been a little more smooth, she wouldn't feel uncomfortable working with him. But due to the aggressive nature of his message (hint guys - never tell a girl what to wear, unless it's a sexual/fetish thing you've both previously agreed you're into), it got uncomfortable.

While I'm sure this is frustrating for guys who now have to err on the side of caution, that's just too bad. Why should women have to instead deal with the frustration of being approached inappropriately in a situation they are required to be in? The answer is that they shouldn't.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

I knew someone will pull out their own personal "war stories" to justify whatever misandry that's being dished out nowadays.

While a minority of men do harass, there are also some women who see harassment everywhere.... even when there wasn't any. Heck, even ignoring a woman these days is seen as "harassment".

Can't blame men for not wanting to do anything with women these days.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

I knew someone will pull out their own personal "war stories" to justify whatever misandry that's being dished out nowadays.

War story? It was an anecdote to give perspective.

Pray tell, what misandry was I attempting to justify?

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Can't blame men for not wanting to do anything with women these days.

Um, I think women are thankful for that. Not complaining. Why would they be complaining about getting hit on less at work?

3 ( +3 / -0 )

@burningbushMen are wisely avoiding women altogether

In this climate, any man 

@cla68 My male coworkers and I

To put the above quotes in context, I suggest those who haven't followed Steve Bannon, or Putin for that matter, read up on their attitudes regarding women. And non-Caucasians.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

All the single ladies... All the single ladies...

Odd how it's always the same voices reducing serious topics concerning sexual harassment to some kind of teenager bragging.

My male coworkers and I now only talk to the women in the office if we absolutely have to. 

I imagine there's plenty of women workers who feel the same way about their male colleagues.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Men, just say "I fancy you, would you like to go on a date to see if there's anything more?" to the person you are attracted towards. Clear, simple, not harassment. It is incumbent on the other person to decide what happens next at that point. There's no need to guess about feelings or intentions.

Any answer other than yes means to move on and there isn't any need to be awkward at work by either party.

I've been sexually harassed at work a few times. People take being helpful and kind to mean more when it doesn't. Clear communication is the answer.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

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