A #MeToo moment for the powerless

From The Los Angeles Times:

There’s nothing new about sexual harassment. Nor has its existence been a secret. Journalists have documented the harassment and sometimes violence women face in the fields, on factory production lines, as well as in political campaigns and corporate boardrooms.

But pervasive sexual harassment didn’t receive the outrage it deserved until 2017, when it became a problem of the rich and famous. It took dozens of A-list actresses and models coming forward to accuse producer Harvey Weinstein of sexual misconduct to spark the backlash that became the #MeToo movement.

So far, the headlines have mostly been attached to the stories of women in the high-profile fields of entertainment, media, tech and politics. If there’s to be a second act to this cultural movement it should focus on the plight of lower-wage workers in industries where sexual harassment is also rampant, but where victims have fewer resources than the average movie star.

Although it’s hard to know exactly how many women in factories, fields and fast-food restaurants experience sexual harassment, there’s evidence to suggest it may be rampant. When Human Rights Watch interviewed farm workers for a 2012 report, nearly all said they had either experienced sexual harassment or personally knew someone who had.

The risk for women working alone in hotel rooms has driven labour unions to push to outfit housekeepers with “panic buttons” that connect directly with the front desk. This began in New York City after the former head of the International Monetary Fund allegedly assaulted a hotel maid. Panic buttons are just one example of a concrete response to sexual harassment. Part of this phase will require exploring new policies, procedures and laws to address the unique sexual harassment challenges in various industries. But the first step is to widen the spotlight so it includes misbehaviour among the poor and powerless as well as the rich.