I wish we treated all people that harass others and make other people feel uncomfortable or unsafe this way.
Sexual harassment is just the tip of the iceberg. There are a lot of behaviors that need correcting. Especially in men.
6 Women Accuse Tech VC Justin Caldbeck of Sexual Assault and Harassment
101–110 of 484 posts
Re: 6 Women Accuse Tech VC Justin Caldbeck of Sexual Assault and Harassment
#102Really glad to see people like this getting called out. Dealing with sexual harassment/assault from someone in power is the last thing you want as a female founder - you have a million other things you need to do to keep your startup afloat, and you don't want to rock the boat if it affects your likelihood of being funded. Feels like the valley is slowly but surely changing. And yes, I recognize that this hasn't been…
The sad part to me is that this is just the part of the iceberg that is visible above the surface.
I've heard stories from several female founders/VC's (not naming names or specific details to protect anonymity) who have experienced repeated unwelcome advances even after it was made clear they had a significant other. That's not as egregious as groping (one of the accusations in this article), but that's still sexual harassment by the letter of the law and slimy as hell every other way.
Another common theme I noticed is when the man in question stays in the gray area where individual incidents aren't clearly over the line and might not qualify legally as sexual harassment, but in context and in aggregate it's clear why a woman would feel very uncomfortable. How do you confront something like that when they can just question your perception of reality?
In all but one case, the women decided against confrontation because the man was in a much more powerful position (such as a general partner of a VC fund), and the women were afraid of retribution and risking killing their careers by taking a principled stand. They all wished they could do more, but decided they didn't want to be martyrs. That's a bad position to be in.
I think it's damning of the industry that these women have accepted silence on the matter as part of the burden of being a woman and pursuing this line of work. Granted I'm looking at this with N I'm hopeful that everything going on around Uber will move the needle enough that more people are willing to come forward.
Re: 6 Women Accuse Tech VC Justin Caldbeck of Sexual Assault and Harassment
#103One of the girls interviewed on Startup Podcast mentioned that a VC propositioned her; like these girls she was Asian. I wonder if this guy is the same alleged pervert?
One might call them women...
Re: 6 Women Accuse Tech VC Justin Caldbeck of Sexual Assault and Harassment
#104Binary Capital is a sleazy VC, no ifs ands or buts about it. The valley is really small, and I've heard horrific stories of what this firm has done to their employees and founders. This includes Jonathon Teo as well. This really is just the tip of the iceberg for Binary Capital. I wouldn't take any investments from them ever.
You really need to back up your assertions with concrete examples. Or you'll just be ignored.
Re: 6 Women Accuse Tech VC Justin Caldbeck of Sexual Assault and Harassment
#105Earlier quoted context omitted.
> Due process is for criminal charges and sentencing. It doesn't apply anywhere else. Waiting for the facts/verdict though, and not forming an internet mob based on whatever one person or another said, SHOULD apply anywhere.
Hm, I am kinda against internet mobs. But I don't see a way to form a consensus about whether this guy is guilty or not, or what to do about it if he is. At the same time, we do need some kind of defense mechanism to make sure people are secure. We can't just let everything slide because we're perpetually waiting for more evidence.
>At the same time, we do need some kind of defense mechanism to make sure people are secure.
Well, how about the law?
>We can't just let everything slide because we're perpetually waiting for more evidence.
But it's not 'sliding', it's going to court.
And it doesn't concern us anyway -- it's not like we witnessed it in real life and didn't speak out.
Re: 6 Women Accuse Tech VC Justin Caldbeck of Sexual Assault and Harassment
#106Earlier quoted context omitted.
Right, I read that, but is it necessary to be publicly on the record? Couldn't the information be privately confirmed, protecting the women from retaliation and still allowing the case/accusation to move forward? It just seems like an unnecessary risk/vulnerability. Of course, there's also the fact that by going on the record you also encourage others to do the same, which is an immeasurable benefit.
I am one of the three women who went on the record with my name: Niniane Wang. I initially asked to be anonymous, but no reporter would publish unless they had named sources. I knew that Justin was continuing to harass women. Using my name was the only way to stop him. In other words, yes, it was necessary to be publicly on the record.
Thank you.
Re: 6 Women Accuse Tech VC Justin Caldbeck of Sexual Assault and Harassment
#107Earlier quoted context omitted.
Because men founders deal with sexual harassment (that they don't cause to others) often?
That is not the point. There are two ways to view the problem: it is either a women's problem, or a people problem that dissproportionantly affects women. By framing it as a womens problem, you are turning it into an issue of identity politics, with all the pros and cons that come with it. (eg, stronger solidarity from the in-group, at the expanse of alienating the out-group, as well as the growing backlash to identi…
From what I have seen, this is more about who has power. Men tend to have more power than women. When the roles are reversed, women will sexually harass men.
We need to work on coming up with ways to create a world in which power is less likely to lead to this type of abuse. I think that starts with generally having healthier attitudes surrounding sexuality.
Re: 6 Women Accuse Tech VC Justin Caldbeck of Sexual Assault and Harassment
#108Earlier quoted context omitted.
Because men founders deal with sexual harassment (that they don't cause to others) often?
That is not the point. There are two ways to view the problem: it is either a women's problem, or a people problem that dissproportionantly affects women. By framing it as a womens problem, you are turning it into an issue of identity politics, with all the pros and cons that come with it. (eg, stronger solidarity from the in-group, at the expanse of alienating the out-group, as well as the growing backlash to identi…
>There are two ways to view the problem: it is either a women's problem, or a people problem that disproportionately affects women.
Well, it's the latter to a huge degree. Which means that by framing it as a "people's problem" in general (without the qualification) it is misrepresented.
Re: 6 Women Accuse Tech VC Justin Caldbeck of Sexual Assault and Harassment
#109Earlier quoted context omitted.
Because men founders deal with sexual harassment (that they don't cause to others) often?
That is not the point. There are two ways to view the problem: it is either a women's problem, or a people problem that dissproportionantly affects women. By framing it as a womens problem, you are turning it into an issue of identity politics, with all the pros and cons that come with it. (eg, stronger solidarity from the in-group, at the expanse of alienating the out-group, as well as the growing backlash to identi…
Speaking of one group is not ignoring the other. Nobody said that sexual harassment against men is okay. It's okay to recognize that social norms affect the genders asymmetrically and structure language around that.
Re: 6 Women Accuse Tech VC Justin Caldbeck of Sexual Assault and Harassment
#110Binary Capital is a sleazy VC, no ifs ands or buts about it. The valley is really small, and I've heard horrific stories of what this firm has done to their employees and founders. This includes Jonathon Teo as well. This really is just the tip of the iceberg for Binary Capital. I wouldn't take any investments from them ever.
Thank you for your unbased, anonymous accusations.