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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

#41
post #28
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…

I do not know much about their workplace but I think you are assuming too much when you say you are sure his co-workers were just fine with it. I worked in academia and startups all my life so I am used to seeing casual shirts being worn but that was way too much. We do not hang that kind of pictures around the office. We do not want people to look at that kind of pictures in the office. Not just in the office also i…

I'm not positive. But that would be between them and their employer. I think it's odd that I can't find a quote from any of his co-workers (men or women) about the issue. They are the only ones who would have standing to complain on a normal day without news cameras around.

Edit: found the video I was looking for. NASA made this one two years earlier https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KnTpm9Y77E So, still speculation, but we do have some idea of attitudes at NASA.

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

#42
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…

if your bosses are groping you sexually, then they are sexual harassers, it doesn't matter what gender you are. If by "their idiotic demands and abuse", it's asking you on dates / groping you / etc., I wouldn't really classify that as "welcome to the workforce", it's harassment.

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

#43

It's amazing that sexual harassment (or any kind of harassment, really) can survive the era of the cell phone recording? Allegations of misbehavior carry far more weight, once there is a recording that can tickle people's sense of voyeurism and outrage.

> It's amazing that sexual harassment (or any kind of harassment, really) can survive the era of the cell phone recording?

In some jurisdictions it's illegal to record someone without their knowledge or permission, so the victim of the harassment can get nailed to the wall for trying to gather evidence to support their case.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legality_of_recording_by_civil...

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

#44

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.

And then there's the other problem that even for criminal sexual harassment police may or may not be willing to help (the humongous backlog in unprocessed "rape kits" being but one concrete evidence of the latter)

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

#45
post #40

What's the legal jurisdiction of the ISS? Is it split by country of origin of the separate modules? On a more comical note, I wonder if "worldwide copyright" applies after escaping the worlds atmosphere...

It's about astronomers, not astronauts.

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

#46
post #40

What's the legal jurisdiction of the ISS? Is it split by country of origin of the separate modules? On a more comical note, I wonder if "worldwide copyright" applies after escaping the worlds atmosphere...

I think you've confused astronomers and astronauts?

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

#47
post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

Do you understand the difference between women making sexual jokes and men making them?

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

#48

It's amazing that sexual harassment (or any kind of harassment, really) can survive the era of the cell phone recording? Allegations of misbehavior carry far more weight, once there is a recording that can tickle people's sense of voyeurism and outrage.

Many states forbid recording without consent.
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