The country is going through a reckoning about the mistreatment of women, and in some cases men, by powerful men. It started with Hollywood and the horrific revelations that producer Harvey Weinstein sexually abused and harassed women for decades with no real consequences. The investigation by Ronan Farrow led to a flood of women and men coming forward with stories about abuse by famous stars, directors and others in positions of power in almost every industry.
Inevitably, the revelations have moved into politics, as in the case of Republican US Senate nominee Roy Moore in Alabama. Women members of Congress, from both parties, are sharing stories of abuse and harassment by their colleagues, at least two of whom are still serving. But we’re also re-assessing people like Bill Clinton and Clarence Thomas, who seemingly got a pass when they were accused a few decades ago.
Most of the people that are making headlines are national figures, but that will likely change. Women are feeling empowered to come out with their stories. As the saying goes, there is strength in numbers and the women are realizing that the abuse they suffered is not their shame, but their abusers’ corruption and, finally, the public is willing to hold them accountable. The flood gates are opening and we’ll start to hear about stories that are much closer to home. Power and fiefdoms don’t just reside in Hollywood studios and the halls of Congress.
I’ve spent a lot of time in the North Carolina legislature and over the years have seen behavior that was largely taken for granted that would be now be unacceptable. Last year one day, I sat outside the senate chamber as the senate adjourned and watched as a young woman lobbyist approached a powerful state senator. He reached around her shoulder and gave hug. He held on to her looking down her blouse as she made whatever point she was trying to make. There’s no way he would have treated a male lobbyist the same way.
As I sat there, I realized I had witnessed some version of that scene dozens of times in that building. That happened in the hallway with dozens of people milling around. I can only imagine what happens in some of those legislative offices behind closed doors. I expect we will hear sometime in the near future.
While partisans will try to make the sexual harassment a political issue, the problem clearly infects both parties but only one gender—men. We’ve reached a period of cultural reckoning that probably has just begun. Today, revelations are made mainly by women who have powerful, high-profile networks to support them. Tomorrow, though, I expect those allegations will filter down to more local businesses and institutions with painful revelations that liberate victims and tarnish abusers, some of whom are respected members of our communities.
We’re changing cultural norms for the better. The next generation of leaders won’t look the other way or cover for people who mistreat their subordinates. We’ll also see far more women in leadership roles who can serve as mentors and protectors. Careers won’t be derailed as often by boorish men on power trips and young women will know that they can more easily call foul without suffering career-damaging consequences. It won’t happen overnight but the change has begun.
Thomas Mills is the founder and publisher of PoliticsNC.com. Before beginning PoliticsNC, Thomas spent twenty years as a political and public affairs consultant. Learn more >
You are right, Norma. My years in the Michigan Office of the Speaker can attest to what you say. When I first tried to set up some rules for committee clerks and pool secretaries in the House (1957), you would not believe the flack I got (and some of it from the women I was trying to protect) from the legislators, lobbyists and even some members of the news media. That was then, but in many cases is still NOW.
Interesting that so far there is not a single comment. This is blog pretty much dominated by male comments, many of which I find interesting and thoughtful. Just curious about the silence.
When I first started my decades as an advocate in NYS/NYC for the cultural sector, I was warned by some of the older and more aware women lobbyists and high level staff women to avoid certain men (staff, legislators and other advocates or lobbyists). It was a kindness I gladly passed along, and sadly still found it necessary to do 30 plus years later. Did these men know they were doing something wrong? Damn right, they did. Did they expect any of the women they hit on to do anything? No. They all had power, or thought they did, and could not imagine any repercussions. It only begin to end a few years ago, and only when an intern complained, then another, and a couple of staff women followed. The operative word is “begin” — definitely not ended.
I suspect the biggest reasons are (1) as the title of the piece suggests, this is the beginning of a long overdue reckoning, and it’s not a comfortable topic, and 2) nobody is terribly surprised by it (despite any claims to the contrary). As you rightly note, this isn’t new. What IS new, though, is that the abusers are no longer so easily excused, nor are the abused so easily cowed. This isn’t so very different from white people finally getting to grips with all the micro-aggressions they display against minorities. It requires an unflinching honesty with oneself that gets way outside the comfort zone. Short version, we don’t know what to say so keeping shut seems the wisest course. That’s not altogether bad, so long as shutting the one mouth allows the two ears to operate as they’re intended.