#ME TOO MOVEMENT
I moderated a group on the topic of “Me Too” – here is a summary
Discussion of the “Me Too” Movement & Where do we go from Here
Session on Saturday July 21 –2pm at the Truman Scholars Reunion – DC
Panel Members:
- Randi Frank – Moderator – (Training on Sexual Harassment Prevention since 1990)
- Lisa Cloutier – (Attorney – Title IX & Campus Sexual Assaults & Civil Rights)
- Michelle Tran Maryns – (Experience in State Dept, US Dept of Justice & Tech industry)
- Cristine Pedersen – (Military experience & issues with Sexual Harassment)
Ms. Frank will provide the definition of Sexual Harassment and provide some facts and figures on Sexual Harassment Cases
Some Facts and figures over the years include:
- 2015 EEOC Task Force had 90,000 cases with 1/3 as work place harassment; estimate 75% don’t report — Fines were $164.5 mil – Recommendations were Training – cultural change starts at the top and Face to Face training
- 2017 – EEOC Reported 99109 charges for all cases – 6696 were Sexual harassment with fine of $46.3 million – 41097 were retaliations cases for all areas of EEOC cases – 25,605 cases of sexual discrimination and $fines of $398 Mill for all discrimination
- 2018 California Legislature put in new rules and investigations process and panel review for issues in the California Legislature related to sexual harassment claims
- US District Court for Norther District of Mississippi heard a case that favored an employee because the employer took too long to investigate complaints
Policies must have a number of options for people to report concerns and the process should include an investigation in a fair way to allow both the victim and accused the ability to tell their story. Training is recommended to prevent harassment. The purpose of Training is to:
- educate employees and supervisors,
- sensitize participants,
- prevent Sexual Harassment or any Harassment or discrimination,
- learn how to respond to all these issues and
- to show the benefits of a work place marked by dignity, respect and equality
Ms. Cloutier talked about assisting victims of Sexual Assault on University Campuses. She provided an example of a case that she was handling and how the process was so long that it took a year to finally issue a report that the investigation was complete and the accused was found to be at fault, then it took another 6 months for a decision of what to do and know the victim’s family is being sued by the accused. Most woman say the complaint process is more difficult than the actual assault/rape. The fact that women are not believed and retaliated against for making a complaint is still happening
Ms. Mayrns talked about working in a very male oriented Technical environment and the fact that a lot of Sexual Harassment or bulling is happening with today’s technology. She suggested that there needs to be more monitoring of the social media and it is time to look for ways to use technology to reduce sexual harassment and harassment in general.
Ms. Pedersen discussed the difficulties of being a woman in the military especially her experience in the Marine Corp. She described her experience with those who continued to use videos to sexually harass and try to ruin a person’s reputation. She also indicated that she was treated like an equal until rumors started.
A lively discuss was then continued by the participants and the audience about their experience and questions and thoughts. We need to continue to discuss these issues so everyone understands that it is still happening and how demeaning it is to the victims (men or women). Training with face to face discussions is the way to move the issue forward.
