Letter: A serious problem clouded by terms of endearment
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.THE HEADLINE to your article on sexual harassment at work was very contentious. 'Half of all working women harassed' (25 July) appears, at first, to be a very disturbing figure.
However, when the 54 per cent includes women who have been called 'dear, love, girl, etc' it makes a mockery of the real problems of sexual harassment: assault, attempted assault and career moves blocked.
Was the list headed 'Is this Sexual Harassment?' the form of the questions asked, or were they answers given by people questioned, or was Barrie Clement just asking the questions himself?
Unfortunately, the seriousness of such a report is bound to be questioned when inviting a female colleague out for a drink and complimenting a woman are considered to be sexual harassment]
It also plants in the conscious, or sub-conscious, of a male manager who does not want to employ a woman, a valid (in his mind) reason not to. After all, if anyone asks her out she might take out a complaint.
Jane Crossen
Knutsford, Cheshire
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments