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For Female Astronomers, Sexual Harassment Is a Constant Nightmare

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Re: For Female Astronomers, Sexual Harassment Is a Constant Nightmare

#32
post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The guy wore the shirt to a celebration after working with those co-workers for 10 years. It wasn't intended to look "professional" and I'm pretty sure none of those co-workers were offended. The reason the shirt was a bad idea is that it was easily misinterpreted by people watching the press conference. Edit: I didn't see it at the time, but this article exactly reflects my perspective on the thing. http://www.theat…

A shirt that depicts women as objects or objectized women is just plain wrong. I do not care about the celebration.

Objectification doesn't really apply to a still image. The whole trope was initially about women in media being the object of the male character's conquest. Essentially the women were turned into nothing more than props.

A t-shirt depicting scantily clad women may be in poor taste and likely isn't professional, but doesn't really contribute to the objectification of women. Women are allowed to be sexualised (just as men are), the line is drawn when women are subjugated to only that role (which, again, we witness in some media, games, movies, TV, rarely books).

You're just moralising right and wrong and then using objectification as some kind of trump card, no matter how little it applies. Men are allowed to wear t-shirts with half naked women on them, it isn't inherently sexist, just tacky and unprofessional (in my opinion).

Re: For Female Astronomers, Sexual Harassment Is a Constant Nightmare

#33

this: > Universities, Mia notes, have protocols for dealing with complaints of sexual harassment seems part of the problem. sexual harassment should be a 'go straight to police' offence, not a hr reprimand. if the problem is as widespread as it's made in the article, it cannot correct from within.

Many forms of sexual harassment are not crimes. Some forms (physical assaults, extensive stalking) are, but something like repeatedly asking a subordinate for a date isn't something the police would be able to intervene in.

Re: For Female Astronomers, Sexual Harassment Is a Constant Nightmare

#34
post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The guy wore the shirt to a celebration after working with those co-workers for 10 years. It wasn't intended to look "professional" and I'm pretty sure none of those co-workers were offended. The reason the shirt was a bad idea is that it was easily misinterpreted by people watching the press conference. Edit: I didn't see it at the time, but this article exactly reflects my perspective on the thing. http://www.theat…

A shirt that depicts women as objects or objectized women is just plain wrong. I do not care about the celebration.

[deleted]

Re: For Female Astronomers, Sexual Harassment Is a Constant Nightmare

#35

Yet people find it hard to understand why some people might be somewhat offended by a shirt with scantily clad women during a press conference. Things do not happen in a vacuum and pretending like nothing is wrong isn't going to help anyone get anywhere.

In a forum dominated by men, under-socialized men because they have few female co workers, there is a lack of understanding and sympathy for anything less than groping. Last time I was on here, HN users defended their right to make dick jokes in the work place.

Well, it is personal experience but the most sexual jokes I've heard in person in the workplace came from women. And I found them rather funny.

But to each their own I guess.

Re: For Female Astronomers, Sexual Harassment Is a Constant Nightmare

#36
post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A shirt that depicts women as objects or objectized women is just plain wrong. I do not care about the celebration.

You do realise the shirt was given to him by a female colleague/friend right?

So what?

If a black friend gives me a shirt with the N-word on it, that doesn't mean I should wear it at work.

Re: For Female Astronomers, Sexual Harassment Is a Constant Nightmare

#37
post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A shirt that depicts women as objects or objectized women is just plain wrong. I do not care about the celebration.

You do realise the shirt was given to him by a female colleague/friend right?

It was a friend, rather than a colleague, that made and gave him the shirt so they may well be unaware of how it would be percieved by his colleagues when worn in this context.

Re: For Female Astronomers, Sexual Harassment Is a Constant Nightmare

#39
post #4

It sounds terrible. And yet working in he unrelated field of IT I haven't seen it. I have seen a bunch of assholes in high positions though and have to put up with their idiotic demands and abuse. So when I read these articles I wonder if it's the same people and how they translate treating male workers like garbage into treating female workers like garbage. It's not misogyny; it's welcome to the workforce and dealin…

Yes. People exist who may seem like really great bosses and nice people but are also aggressive and entitled with their female coworkers. It is important not to think of sexual harassment as only the skeevy creep who purposely takes advantage of women he has power over (although these people definitely exist too). Women have a right to work without being sexualized at all. Many times it is well meaning, otherwise goo…

> are also aggressive and entitled with their female coworkers.

and more generally any one deemed of inferior status and/or easy to prey on (women commonly being slotted in these categories either way), the number of people who will seem perfectly nice around their colleagues but will abuse staff (e.g. serving or cleaning agents, or secretaries) at the drop of a hat is astounding and disheartening.

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