Re: OT - I just attended my first sexual harrasment siminar today........
- From: Fred Pierce <lists@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sun, 24 Feb 2008 14:21:29 -0500
On Sun, 24 Feb 2008 10:39:28 -0800 (PST), Norman Draper
<normandraper@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
On Feb 24, 1:26 pm, chaya <ch...@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Awhile ago we had to attend sexual harassment classes. At the end of
it, I looked at a male friend & said if he stopped hugging me I was
going to bring him up on charges.
And I DO think this is very important - I've witnessed it first hand
and see what it can do to someone. My real problem is at the level
they teach these things.
UC recently changed it to an on-line course. The thing was too easy,
but there was a required amount of time you had to take to finish it.
I had to get up & leave my computer for 45 minutes so it would look
like I took enough time.
The classes are important, but the one-size-fits-all type of classes
can be ridiculous.
csj
I wonder if anyone has noticed you are the first woman to respond to
this thread. Not that there's a deep well of women on rmmga to draw
from, but I thought it was interesting, not that you were first, but
that none had before this.
And I agree: the classes can be.... just awful, "taught" by people who
are ill-equipped to present the issues, to people who don't want to be
there.
Norman Draper
I think you hit on my real gripe. The tension, time-wasting etc. for
the most part come from boiler-plate, cover my ass "programs" etc.
that are not aimed at enlightenment but at the organization being able
to say they had done the required things to ensure a non-hostile
workplace etc. in case/when somebody sues.
Yes, a lot of this was brought on by men being stupid and obnoxious
(I'm a man, but I can change, if I have to, I guess). We definitely
did need some education. I don't think I ever intentionally did harm,
but looking back at my behavior many years in the past, I've decided
it might be unwise for me to run for high office. Unfortunately
though, it is not education that is offered. It's not just
one-size-fits-all classes, it's one-size-fits-all rules, codes etc. We
all establish different relationships and modes of behavior with each
other. Most-easily-offended baseline code can get really ridiculous -
to the point that it's just easier to forgo any sort of personal
interaction rather than risk "offending" someone. Oh - and forget peer
pressure where it might be valuable in correcting someone's work
performance. Can't risk hurting someone's self-esteem and be accused
of contributing to a "hostile workplace."
"Real" training would certainly help, including teaching victims how
to take care of themselves without resorting to authority. "HEY - BACK
OFF!" can work for unintentional offenses. Hell, I was picked on a lot
for my stature-challenged existence, but it never occured to me to run
to management or any other authority about it. Unfortunately, the
litigatious atmosphere discourages real communication where it's most
needed.
I'm just so glad I got out of management 20+ years ago (for other
reasons too). My predecessor would poke his head in my office door
about once a month and ask "had enough yet?" "Nah - I can handle it."
This went on for about 3 years til I finally said "yeah - get me the
hell out of here!" Joined his staff and been a much happier person
ever since.
Maybe we'll evolve and get past this. I like to think so.
fdp
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Fred Pierce (DNRC)- Avialantic.com
---------------------------------------------------------------------
.
- Follow-Ups:
- References:
- Prev by Date: Re: Words of "Church street blues" from Tony Rice
- Next by Date: Re: Happiness is...
- Previous by thread: Re: OT - I just attended my first sexual harrasment siminar today........
- Next by thread: Re: OT - I just attended my first sexual harrasment siminar today........
- Index(es):
Relevant Pages
|
Loading
