Comment and Response

[thisnewday]

In today's edition of the local online newspaper, Syracuse.com, there was an article on Time magazine's "Person of the Year" cover. That recognition, of a person who has had a significant impact on contemporary life, went to "The Silence Breakers," those victims of sexual harassment in the workplace who have added their voices to the #MeToo movement.

The response, in the readers' comment section, was unfortunately predictable but at least the conversation is now ongoing and impossible to ignore. One such comment is quoted below and is followed by my response to it.

I would just add that it's heartening to note that there were many thoughtful and articulate responses, to this and similar comments, and that hopefully the tide may be turning on at least one important issue in American life.

Also, that those who spoke out, at the peril of their lives and careers, are owed a tremendous debt, by both men and women, for bringing a measure of reason to the troubled and chaotic landscape of Donald Trump's America.

In the meantime, a Trumpy speaks: 


"While I admire these ladies for what theyve gone through, and speaking out... too little, too late.  They allowed these men to continue to act like this, without consequence, and harm countless of other victims because (in most cases) they cared more about money and jobs."


And I, who am not without sin, respond:


"For generations there was a sense, amply reinforced by the experience of those women of earlier eras who did speak out, that doing so would have NO effect EXCEPT the ruining of their own lives and careers.

Only with the gradual ascendancy of more women to positions of institutional authority and responsibility, built on the lives and careers of the victims you're now blaming, has it been reasonable for them to speak and possible for them to be heard."

LPK
Dreamwidth
12.6.2017

Comments

[bluecatartist]

Good response. Finally having a voice and being believed w.out being blamed... and ppl wonder why so many women are coming forward now? I am watching to see how it goes and certainly hope it continues so ppl in other businesses and industries also have a voice. The local food places, plants, small places where you have a predator w. a little power and abuses it bc he can fire anyone who needs the job to support their family.

[thisnewday]

Exactly, and none of that is taken into account by so many of those--men, I'm sure--who are commenting now. Hopefully, that's because we're at the very start of a new era in the recognition of women's rights in the workplace and elsewhere. Less hopefully, it comes at a time of unprecedented assaults on basic human dignity by the current occupant of the Whitehouse. And I fear that, in so many ways, we face a very rough road ahead...