When it comes to the topic of sexual harassment most would think about women being the primary victims of sexual harassment. Women are not the only ones who are sexually harassed especially in the work place. Men are also victims of sexual harassment but it is not spoken for as much as women being sexually harassed. In the news about a year ago a married male cop Matthew Schindler committed suicide because he was being forced to have sex with his female boss Christine Hertzel who is also married and he couldn't take it any longer.According to reports he wanted to stop this ongoing affair but his boss used threats such as work schedules and more threats concerning work to keep him continuously having an sexual affair with him. In result of him having a guilty conscious and being forced against his will he commuted suicide.
I really found this article http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2271712/Matthew-Schindler-NYPD-Sgt-Christine-Hirtzel-claims-affair-consensual.htmlinteresting because you never really hear about men speaking about them being sexually harassed especially in the workplace. Now this all came out after the male cop committed suicide. His wife spoke of these allegations and now has a lawsuit against the NYPD and her husbands boss. In Christine Hertzel defense she states the relationship was consensual and Matthew became disturbed because she wanted to end their secret relationship.Who knows which side is correct because the alleged victim is now not alive so how can their be a case against Hertzel. Sexual harassment goes on everyday in the workplace sometimes people speak up for themselves and other times people would keep quiet. In the world we live in I think sexual harassment is very sexist when it comes to men. Some would say " men can't be sexually harassed they like it" ,"how could a man feel violated" or " a man can't be raped by a woman". All of those statements are ignorant and impossible to consider as any truth. Harassment is harassment no matter what gender you are. My only concern with this article is how come Matthew didn't speak up before? Or tell his wife before? Or even quit? Now who am I to question why he didn't speak up before. He could have been scared of what his wife might say or do ,or maybe not finding another job right away, no one knows what was going on in Matthews mind. I found my self wondering how much do you take as a victim when you are being sexual harassed until you speak up. Especially for men because they might get laughed at or put down if they are sexually harassed especially by a woman. Do you think Matthews life could have been saved? Or do you think that if he would have spoken up it just would have been ignore because he is a man?
The secrecy of sexual harassment has got to come to an end point. Whether you are being sexually harassed as a women or as a male either way it's not right and their is no excuse for it. Sexually harassment isn't just physical, it's verbal, mental an emotional. The end result is never pretty either the victim or the perpetrator can get hurt. From my own experience as a female working in a male dominated work place I too have to deal with certain comments that are not appropriate. I stand up for my rights and nip it in the bud as fast as it starts. Sexual harassment is never okay no matter who it is. Take a look at this clip from this comedian who "jokes" about sexual harassment I honestly don't see this issue as a joking matter because when it actually happens it is not a joking matter.http://m.funnyordie.com/videos/47345c3436/patrice-o-neal-on-sexual-harassment
I couldn't agree with you more, sexual harassment whether it happens to a man or a woman is troubling and needs to be addressed. I don't know anything about the case so I don't want to address it directly. Instead, I would like to look more closely at the reasons you raise why men are less likely to report sexual harassment. Aren't all the reasons you raise precisely the result of the very rigid ideas of masculinity and femininity that we've been discussing all semester?
ReplyDeleteAgain, thanks for sharing this post, Love22!