#MeTOO movement has work to do
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Recently, there has been a lot of discussion regarding the #MeToo movement, including the sexual harassment of women in the workplace.
Multiple national media outlets published articles and we celebrated the Equal Pay Act of 1963, which is implicated by the movement.
These discussions made me think about all the Tennesseans, particularly female employees and independent contractors, who have worked for decades under a system that has offered little to no protection from the scourge of sexual harassment.
We have seen many examples across our state of sexual harassment, including in the Tennessee legislature. Nashville’s country music industry also has numerous reports of sexual harassment. Our state’s problems are not unlike problems faced nationwide.
Based on a publication from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, up to 85 percent of women report having experienced sexual harassment at work. This problem is a long, festering epidemic of seismic proportions that must be excised.
The impact of sexual harassment in the workplace has a detrimental effect on the lives of women, their families and the economy of our state.
When women are subjected to sexual harassment, they often suffer anxiety, depression and even symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. These issues often cause women to change jobs, scale back their ambitions or leave the workforce.
The net effect of sexual harassment in the workplace potentially costs Tennessee hundreds of millions of dollars in lost revenue.
These large sums could have been used to fund small businesses, help pay for college or technical school or home ownership.
However, the malignant plague of sexual harassment rips these gains away. Time is up Tennessee, and we must enter a new day with higher standards deserving of our people.
I helped lead the second annual women’s march (Tennessee Women’s March 2.0) in Nashville earlier this year. I also sponsored House Bill 1984 this past legislative session that would have extended the protection against sexual harassment to independent contractors outside the protection of Tennessee’s anti-harassment laws.
Unfortunately, HB 1984 did not pass, but #MeToo advocates cannot give up.
In addition to passing HB 1984, Tennessee needs to adopt some common sense anti-harassment policies to protect women and grow our economy.
First, Tennessee should keep track of businesses that have received state funding and are found guilty of sexual harassment.
Tennessee should prohibit businesses from writing off and receiving state tax benefits for settlements, legal expenses and attorney’s fees for sexual harassment claims. Tennessee should prohibit the forced arbitration required in some employment agreements that silence women in sexual harassment cases if the victim opts to pursue a civil action in open court.
Tennessee should further empower the Tennessee Commission on Human Rights to enforce anti-sexual harassment laws. There are countless more voices on this issue and I encourage them to sound off against sexual harassment and in favor of policies that promote justice.
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Brenda J. Gilmore, D-Nashville, is a six-term Tennessee state representative in the 54th House District and a candidate for the 19th Senate District.