What lasting consequences of sexual harassment are endured by its victims? Does society understand and acknowledge women’s plight? In this video, I talk about the scrutiny women face when they speak up about sexual harassment.
It’s Her Fault
People often fail to support women’s rights or rally around victims. For whatever reason, more often than not we see doubt and resentment of the victims of sexual harassment rather than the perpetrators.
We hear it all the time: “She’s claiming harassment because she’s looking for a big payout, like a settlement or book deal.” Or we hear, “How can we be sure it even happened?” But can you really believe that so many women would make formal complaints of sexual harassment for financial gain? Do you honestly think women are maliciously motivated to bring false accusations against innocent men?
What Benefit Can There Possibly Be?
The consequences of sexual harassment reporting often extend further than the trauma of the harassment itself. Women who pursue court cases are dragged through the mud. Their credibility is called into question. They’re blamed for their behavior and shamed for their sexual histories. Seeking justice after being sexually harassed can ruin a victim’s career, family, and future.
Women don’t derive undue benefits from bringing action against perpetrators. Instead, they encounter further humiliation by coming forward. In the video, I point to examples of the public’s negative attitudes towards victims. Christine Blasey Ford and Monica Lewinsky are two women who faced harsh criticism and stigmatism instead of sympathy. Too often, our society’s response is to suppress scandal rather than support women’s rights when sexual misconduct is exposed.
Please Step Up, Support Women’s Rights
Ask yourself, “How can I support women’s rights when they’ve been violated?” The answer: Direct your outrage and disdain towards sexual harassment offenders rather than victims.
Let’s Grow,
Beate
Beate Chelette is The Growth Architect & Founder of The Women’s Code, a training company specialized in providing companies an ROI on Balanced Leadership. She has been named one of 50 must-follow women entrepreneurs by the Huffington Post. A first-generation immigrant who found herself $135,000 in debt as a single parent, she bootstrapped her passion for photography into a highly-successful global business, and eventually sold it to Bill Gates in a multimillion-dollar deal.
Beate works with business leaders and supports organizations by developing and providing training the training, tools, and expertise to create and maintain a balanced, equal and inclusive work environment that fosters creativity, employee engagement and corporate growth.
Recent clients include Merck, Women’s Legislative Caucus of California, Cal State University Dominguez Hills, Small Business Development Centers (SBDC), NFTE, CreativeLive, the Association of Corporate Growth, and TracyLocke.
Beate is the author of the #1 International Amazon Bestseller “Happy Woman Happy World – How to Go From Overwhelmed to Awesome” a book that corporate trainer and best-selling author Brian Tracy calls “a handbook for every woman who wants health, success and a fulfilling career.
To book Beate to speak or train please connect here.