Robinson: ‘Stand up to sexist men’
TV PRESENTER Anne Robinson has said women must accept that workplaces are “sexually treacherous” environments.
Speaking about sexual harassment, the 73-year-old said that “I certainly didn’t run crying to the loo” if a man “tried to pat my bum”.
The ex-host of The Weakest Link said women were “still having to put up with inappropriate behaviour from men while not doing anything about it”.
She told Radio Times: “I thought my generation had broken the glass ceiling on the journey to equality.
“But having passed on the warrior baton that enabled women to become prime ministers and heads of city institutions, it transpires they we’re still having to put up with inappropriate behaviour from men while not doing anything about it.”
Robinson has made a BBC documentary which explores issues around equality, including recent sexual harassment controversies.
She said: “It angers me why this behaviour has been allowed to go on for so long. But workplaces are politically and sexually treacherous and I’m afraid women do have to accept that.
“You have a choice: Do I get off the train and spend my life complaining or do I stay on the train and make sure it never happens to me again?
“I always chose the latter, but maybe I’m just a different sort of warrior.”
Robinson said she did not “clout” a man if he “tried to pat my bum, because I never attached that much importance to it.
“I just used to sigh and curtly say: ‘Look, I’m very busy, please don’t waste my time.’ I just thought the quicker I got to the top, the sooner I wouldn’t have to put up with this nonsense.
“It’s important for women to show their strength and make it clear they’re not going to put up with this rubbish.”