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October 12, 2017
Along with others around the country, over the last week we’ve been applauding the courage of Gwyneth Paltrow, Angelina Jolie, and other women who have gone public with their stories of sexual assault and sexual harassment leveled at Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein.
At 9to5, we’ve also been struck that the big story here isn’t about Hollywood celebrities at all — it’s that for thousands of women, across income level and industry, sexual harassment on the job is a pervasive and daunting threat even in 2017.
On the 9to5 Job Survival Helpline, we take calls from workers across the country who are facing problems on the job, and help them understand their rights and navigate their options.
Again and again, callers tell us their stories of the coworker who makes offensive jokes or the boss who always brushes up against them from behind, then pretends it’s an accident. The HR department who sweeps complaints under the rug, or the supervisor who won’t stop asking for a date. Some callers tell me how dealing with sexual harassment takes a serious emotional toll on them, affecting their work and personal lives. Some tell me they feel alone and unsure what to do.
The good news is, you’re not alone. We’ve been there, and we can help.
We know that sexual harassment, and retaliation for speaking up, can be especially prevalent in low-wage industries and non-unionized workplaces. That’s why it’s so important we don’t limit this conversation to talking about strangers on the news.
We hope you’ll join us in using the resources above to help combat sexual harassment and make our workplaces equitable and safe.
2 Ways to Combat Sexual Harassment:
1. Read 9to5’s Guide to Combatting Sexual Harassment. We sell this book for $10 (plus shipping). Consider buying a copy and donating it to your local library to make this resource available to your entire community.
2. Share this information with a friend, neighbor, cousin, or anyone who may need to read this.
