For Female Astronomers, Sexual Harassment Is a Constant Nightmare • Hacker News Board

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

#171

Post by JoeAltmaier » Mon, Apr 18, 2016, 3:24 PM UTC

kitd wrote: post #158

mooseburger wrote: post #49

These harassment cases are so mysterious to me. What kind of men think this sort of behavior is ok? I mean, I would like to help somehow, but I don't know anyone like that.

> What kind of men think this sort of behavior is ok? The kind who think that the real world is just an extension of the school playground.

Interesting point. And why isn't it? Why is the 'real world' run according to some narrow set of safe-and-happy rules that insecure people make up? Just being 'devil's advocate' here. Sales people know, you get what you negotiate, not what you deserve. Anything else is a fantasy. Extend that to every facet of the working world, and you have the 'school playground' all over again.

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

#172

Post by scott_s » Mon, Apr 18, 2016, 3:24 PM UTC

mooseburger wrote: post #25

kelukelugames wrote: post #16

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.

Dick jokes in the workplace are ok. Serious question, why wouldn't they be?

Because they tend to give the message to women that "You're an outsider here."

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

#173

Post by davidgerard » Mon, Apr 18, 2016, 3:24 PM UTC

Cyph0n wrote: post #92

I never knew BuzzFeed wrote exclusive longform (and interesting) content. Thanks for mentioning it.

BuzzFeed has a startlingly good line in actual serious journalism these days.

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

#174

Post by emp_zealoth » Mon, Apr 18, 2016, 3:24 PM UTC

babygoat wrote: post #122

woodman wrote: post #74

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is the sort of thinking that leads to people calling 911 for disputes relating to McNuggets. Calling in armed mediators is not likely to improve your situation.

Because sexual harassment is comparable to a dispute relating to McNuggets?

Yes, because there are special snowflakes who find anything and everything offensive/sexual harassment and the like.

I have mild autism and am less than welcome in most civil interactions. Do i get to sue everyone and bitch about everything everyday? That would be a NO.

Disclaimer: I do not condone any really disruptive, actual harassment like touching/real verbal abuse.

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

#175

Post by woodman » Mon, Apr 18, 2016, 3:25 PM UTC

babygoat wrote: post #122

woodman wrote: post #74

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is the sort of thinking that leads to people calling 911 for disputes relating to McNuggets. Calling in armed mediators is not likely to improve your situation.

Because sexual harassment is comparable to a dispute relating to McNuggets?

Yes, directly comparable when your metric is criminality, perceived imminent violence, or any other thing that the mass of the public expects cops to respond to.

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

#176

Post by Houshalter » Mon, Apr 18, 2016, 3:26 PM UTC

bunnymancer wrote: post #2

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.

The stupid shirt controversy trivializes real issues. This article is about actual cases of sexual harassment and even assault. People don't take it as seriously because now sexism now mostly means people getting offended at silly shirts.

I clicked on the article honestly expecting it to be something trivial like that, and was alarmed at the seriousness of it.

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

#177

Post by homogeneous » Mon, Apr 18, 2016, 3:27 PM UTC

mooseburger wrote: post #25

kelukelugames wrote: post #16

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.

Dick jokes in the workplace are ok. Serious question, why wouldn't they be?

I think keeping jokes about genitalia and other sexually explicit topics out of the workplace is a pretty reasonable line to draw. The problem isn't that dick jokes are categorically offensive, rather, the problem arises because, when this type of behavior is permitted, there is always someone lacking social intelligence or boundaries who takes it way too far and creates a complicated ambiguity regarding what type of dick jokes take it too far. The office isn't the place to tease out the nuance of what is appropriate comedy.

Personally, as a straight male, I'd be pretty uncomfortable if my boss was making jokes about his dick. Just sayin'

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

#178

Post by scott_s » Mon, Apr 18, 2016, 3:27 PM UTC

rokhayakebe wrote: post #31

Ask Women: What counts as sexual harassment? Is it "Let's go out this weekend?" or is it a comment about body parts below the neck, or is it physical?

U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on sexual harassment: https://www.eeoc.gov/laws/types/sexual_harassment.cfm

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

#179

Post by ainiriand » Mon, Apr 18, 2016, 3:27 PM UTC

sp332 wrote: post #154

ainiriand wrote: post #95

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Related: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=11373316

I think brudgers's advice is excellent, and I would encourage you again to take it. I hope this doesn't sound too pushy, it's just a suggestion.

It is an excellent advice. Made by someone who writes for a living. However, the comment system is not made to make us all agree about everything. My concern is about the restriction you put in a unconscious way to your opinions when there is dissent. Is this a kind of censorship? A very sofisticate one?

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

#180

Post by fweespee_ch » Mon, Apr 18, 2016, 3:30 PM UTC

stcredzero wrote: post #169

fweespee_ch wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> 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 dealing with people above you who are neither competent not deserving of their positions and their power trips and borderline psychopathy. I think what the issue is when it comes to the male boss/femal…

I think what the issue is when it comes to the male boss/female employee dynamic is those power trips frequently take on a sexual dynamic in private. Dominance is messily tied into sexuality. This plays out in school locker rooms and boarding school dormitories. I know one manager I used to work with who seemed nice but literally every single hire he has made has been an asian female. So what? In itself, this shouldn…

> So what? In itself, this shouldn't be a significant factor.

1) He is clearly hiring based on a fetish he has.

2) They were hired to replace male, white, african-american, or hispanic members of his department over a period of ~2 years. The area is almost entirely a white and/or hispanic population so there is no way this is coincidence.

3) The odds of a guy rolling the same 20 sided die 12 times and always coming up with the same number is highly improbable. Roughly 5% of the applicants were female and Asian. I somehow doubt the most competent were always in that 5%.

4) Its a baker's dozen (13).