Dare I hope ‘Time’s Up’ for sexual harassment?
The #MeToo movement that has gained traction through the avalanche of allegations against Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein shows no signs of slowing down. If anything, it seems to be gaining momentum.
On Sunday, women’s rights activists and celebrities took to the red carpet for the Golden Globes. They wore black to shine a spotlight on pervasive sexual harassment, inequality and injustice in Hollywood and beyond. The slogan for the evening was “Time’s up.” Dare I hope?
While the movement in the entertainment industry is significant, what I’m focusing on is how the world of politics deals with sexual harassment in the workplace.
We’re making progress. In November, Patty Hajdu, minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour, introduced legislation to prevent and fight harassment in federally regulated workplaces, including sexual harassment and physical and sexual violence. And now, NDP MP Nathan Cullen says that male MPs must work to fight sexual misconduct on Parliament Hill.
Cullen’s comments reflect a promising shift: a broader acknowledgment that gender equality in politics — across all sectors, really — is everyone’s responsibility. He also notes that recalibrating this power imbalance can only happen with the participation of men.
I am the feminist mother of two young boys. It matters to me that this movement does not exclude or demonize them, but that it happens alongside and with them.
One of the things the #MeToo movement has taught us is that sexual misconduct in the workplace is not confined to any one industry or sector. Women in the maledominated worlds of politics, the armed forces, business, sports, entertainment and media and beyond have broken their silence and come forward with accounts of sexual harassment and violence, predominantly at the hands of men. However, a handful of men have also come forward with their own accounts of suffering sexual misconduct. We also know that gender inequality can take many different forms. Intersecting factors such as race, sexuality, religion and mental or physical disability can deepen inequalities and compound barriers to participation in the political and economic spheres.
Combatting gendered violence and sexual harassment, and creating inclusive workplaces means a massive paradigm shift.
Last month, The Canadian Press conducted a survey of all current female MPs across party lines to learn more about the extent to which they had experienced sexual harassment, assault or misconduct, including during their time in elected office.
Of 89 current female members of Parliament, 38 participated in the survey.
Nearly 58 per cent of respondents indicated that they had personally been the target of one or more forms of sexual misconduct while in office, “including inappropriate or unwanted remarks, gestures or text messages of a sexual nature.” Nearly half of respondents — 47 per cent — said they were subjected to inappropriate comments online.
Also last month, a survey found that two-thirds of female MNAs in Quebec had experienced some form of sexual misconduct in their work.
None of this should come as a surprise. I’m glad it’s finally coming out. But, as Cullen has acknowledged, there is an element of fear among some male MPs who worry that they need to be more careful with their actions and words. There is also the question of due process, as men who are accused of sexual misconduct lose their jobs before cases even go to trial: Montreal lawyer Julius Grey recently argued “punishment before trial is a trend to be resisted … especially when accusations can’t be fully erased from the internet.” As the #MeToo movement progresses into 2018, these are important conversations that need to happen.
For now, there are things that men in positions of power can do to help. Amplify women’s voices. Open the doors to participation and opportunity. Advocate for and insist on equal pay for equal work.
Everyone has the right to safe, inclusive workplaces. Having this acknowledged at a political level is significant.