Published in the San Diego Union-Tribune, April 1, 2024
by Barbara Bry
We live in complex times. And one of its most combustible subjects is sexual harassment and assault. Accusations and recollections demand accuracy and detail. Lives are put at risk. It is not a nuanced topic; it is wrong, period.
San Diego has an organization on the front lines of this issue, the Center for Community Solutions, which provides support for survivors of relationship and sexual violence.
Hereis a recent story, but one that unfortunately is told over and over.
What started out as a fun evening for co-workers getting together outside of the office for a few drinks ended with a sexual assault incident. A male worker forcibly tried to initiate sexual intercourse with a female colleague with whom he often worked side-by-side. The next day, the woman reported the episode to her employer, who refused to change her work situation.
Fortunately, she contacted CCS. They intervened, the man left his position and the woman returned to her job. Happy ending, but no real happiness.
In 2006, Tarana Burke started the #MeToo movement when she used the phrase “me too” to support survivors of sexual violence. In 2017, Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein was accused of sexual abuse (and later convicted) and the issue became a global movement. April marks the 23rd anniversary of Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
Some detail: Harassment is a broad term including many types of unwelcome verbal and physical advances in the workplace, professional or social situations. In contrast, assault is physical contact or behavior that occurs without the explicit consent of the victim.
About 7 million women (approximately 5.6 percent of women in the U.S.) reported experiencing some type of workplace- related sexual violence during their lifetime, according to a 2020 study by the National Sexual Violence Resource Center. The most commonly reported type of sexual violence for women was unwanted sexual contact by authority figures: Touching, grabbing, etc.
But don’t count men out. They also are victims. Almost 3 million men reported some form of sexual violence by a workplace-related perpetrator in their lifetimes. For them, the most common type of workplace sexual harassment was non-contact unwanted sexual experiences, the majority of those perpetrated by a non- authority figure: Verbal, exposing, etc.
“Looking at who is most susceptible has to do with power and opportunity,” said Cori Austin, CEO of San Diego-based CCS. “Individuals working in lower wage jobs are more financially dependent and so are often afraid to report an incident. Take janitors who work at night. If they’re alone and there are no witnesses, they are afraid they won’t be believed. We also see incidents in industries that are more male dominated. Women don’t want to be considered a troublemaker or have to switch departments so they stay quiet.”
In one case, she said, a professional woman who was a victim of sexual assault didn’t complain to her employer and continued working because she was able to reduce her interactions with the perpetrator. Despite this effort at distance, her PTSD was so high that she couldn’t focus and she lost her job. This is classic. The woman bites her tongue and keeps going and hopes the abuser finds another target.
An issue that arises often is what happens when you talk to a medical professional.
“Medical professionals are mandated to report to law enforcement anytime there is physical harm,” Austin said. “The only exception to that is a certified sexual assault counselor who works within a rape crisis center as approved by California. These people don’t have to report.”
That is why CCS is so important. It is a safe place that provides advocacy, emotional crisis support and how to work with law enforcement. Its licensed staff attorneys specialize in sexual violence and understand your workplace rights and job protections.
As an employee, you are entitled to work in a safe environment and employers should promote a culture of respect and inclusion, provide regular training and offer accountability mechanisms when there is an incident.
Seems obvious, doesn’t it?
Rule No. 803: Me too/you too.
If you are a victim of sexual assault, you can call the CCS crisis hotline 24 hours a day, 1-888-385-4657. On May 9, the Center for Community Solutions’ 25th annual Tea & Tonic will feature Burke, founder of the #MeToo movement.