South Australian opposition Leader Isobel Redmond made some startling comments at a women's leadership function yesterday about sexual harassment and discrimination. That she made the comments at all is worrying. What is worse is that she was speaking at an event one presumes is intended to inspire other women who are already in, or seeking to be in, leadership positions.
In a nutshell, she advocates that women should just ignore sexual harassment and discrimination and it will hopefully go away. She also suggested that taking legal action was a bad idea as it would make people hate you. Ms Redmond, after 20 years of working in HR management, and having been subject to both myself, I can tell you absolutely and categorically that ignoring it will not make it go away. In fact, it makes it worse. Much worse.
The perpetrators of harassment in particular are usually bullies. Bullies hate people standing up to them and in fact rely on them being fearful so they can repeat the behaviour without fear of retribution or punishment. They wear down their victim. If the victim doesn't 'play along' (and I use the word 'play' because it is a game to them) they end up bullying their victim until they either leave the organisation or develop an anxiety disorder, eating disorder, depression or all of the above. If their victim leaves (having tried to ignore it and not taking legal avenues), then they are free to wreak their particular brand of torture on the next person. And get away with it again. And again. And again.
I have seen first hand the effect of this on women. It is traumatising. It is not right and I am astounded and appalled that any woman in a leadership role could think this is acceptable. I'm glad I don't work for her. If I was I would be leaving. Today. As to not taking legal action - I would rather be proud of myself for standing up to both the perpetrator and the organisation supporting him by trying to stop it than worrying about people 'hating' me.
Sex discrimination is similar but does not usually result in the same psychological trauma as ongoing sexual harassment or bullying. But it can if it is ongoing. And it is usually very subtle but often not. Everyone has either conscious or unconscious bias that they bring to the workplace. Women and men. When it comes to discrimination it is up to women in leadership roles to challenge these biases in relation to women and their roles at work. EVERY SINGLE DAY. Ms Redmond - EVERY SINGLE DAY. How wonderful it would have been to read you made a speech about that instead of what you said. Never accept that it is ok to hear a man say for example that once a woman has children or works part time she is not 'committed' or that part time workers are not profitable. Call bullshit on that and loudly. Speak up. I do it EVERY SINGLE DAY. Mentor women in those situations and help them and the people they work for challenge those assumptions and prevent discrimination.
It's hard work and you feel like you are pushing a heavy wheelbarrow uphill sometimes but it is so worth it. Otherwise what is the point in wanting to be a leader and a female leader at that?
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Excellent post - did you consider submitting it to a newspaper opinion page? The kind of thing that should be read widely.
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