Good Idea, Bad Idea: Sexual Harassment Edition
I've gotten the sense that some men are freaking out right now about all the men being "outed" as sexual predators (Harvey Weinstein, Bill O'Reilly, Roger Ailles, Al Franken, Donald Trump, Roy Moore, Charlie Rose, etc.). The sentiment among some men is a fear that innocent men are being embroiled in allegations that are unfounded or blown out of proportion. Other men are questioning their interactions with women to divine if they might be accused someday because they once asked a female co-worker out on a date or they once laughed at a male colleague's dirty joke. I've decided that this calls for a little game of "Good Idea, Bad Idea: Sexual Harassment Edition".
Good Idea: Complimenting your female colleague on her new outfit by saying "You look nice. Is that new?"
Bad Idea: Complimenting your female colleague on her new outfit by saying "Wowza. That outfit really shows off all your assets."
-----------------------------------
Good Idea: Upon hearing that your female colleague just received news that her father died, you briefly place a hand on her shoulder and tell her you are very sorry for her loss.
Good Idea: Upon hearing that your female colleague just received news that her father died, you briefly place a hand on her shoulder and tell her you are very sorry for her loss.
Bad Idea: Upon hearing your female co-worker's sad news, offer to give her a long hug where you rub her back (and buttocks).
-----------------------------------
-----------------------------------
Bad Idea: Seeing a woman working out at the gym and then making comments about how her workout moves are "making you hot" or suggesting that sex is a great way to burn calories
-----------------------------------
-----------------------------------
Good Idea: Noticing a beautiful woman across the street and quietly admiring her attractiveness.
Bad Idea: Noticing a beautiful woman across the street and yelling "Hey, Baby...I'd like to get a piece of that!"-----------------------------------
Good Idea: Seeing a woman working out at the gym and leaving her alone because she seems like she is focused on her workout.
-----------------------------------
Good Idea: Meeting with your female employee over lunch to discuss a new opportunity in the company (just as you did for that little jerk Kevin who has only been with the company for six months). Then spending the lunch hour actually discussing the new opportunity with her, just like you did with Kevin.
Bad Idea: Inviting your female employee to your private office where you plan to offer her the new job -- but only if she gives you a "job" first.
-----------------------------------
Good Idea: Being friendly with a female colleague you find attractive and then asking her out on a date if she seems to have mutual feelings. (And then taking "no" for an answer if she turns you down.)
Good Idea: Being friendly with a female colleague you find attractive and then asking her out on a date if she seems to have mutual feelings. (And then taking "no" for an answer if she turns you down.)
Bad Idea: Asking your female colleague out on a date and then trashing her reputation at the office to get her fired if she turns you down.
-----------------------------------
Good Idea: Attending an out-of-town conference with a female colleague and respecting her privacy when she is ready to head to her hotel room alone.
-----------------------------------
Good Idea: Attending an out-of-town conference with a female colleague and respecting her privacy when she is ready to head to her hotel room alone.
Bad Idea: Attending an out-of-town conference for the express purpose of hooking up with your female colleague.
-----------------------------------
Good Idea: Having one or two drinks with your date during dinner.
Good Idea: Having one or two drinks with your date during dinner.
Bad Idea: Pressuring your date to get so drunk that her defenses and decision-making skills are impaired. (Even worse idea is to slip drugs into your date's drink to ensure she will be too impaired to say "no".)
-----------------------------------
Good Idea: Treating women with dignity and respect because they are human beings who have rights.
Good Idea: Treating women with dignity and respect because they are human beings who have rights.
Bad Idea: Treating women like live sex toys, because that's how it works in all the pornography you have been viewing.
-----------------------------------
Good Idea: Believing women when they tell you they have been assaulted/harassed/abused/raped.
Good Idea: Believing women when they tell you they have been assaulted/harassed/abused/raped.
Bad Idea: Paying women off and then having them sign non-disclosure agreements to ensure their silence.
-----------------------------------
Good Idea: Telling your male colleagues/friends to knock it off when they are making lewd comments to or about women -- and reporting men who are harassing women, are touching women sexually without consent, are bragging about sexual assault, or anything like that.
-----------------------------------
Good Idea: Telling your male colleagues/friends to knock it off when they are making lewd comments to or about women -- and reporting men who are harassing women, are touching women sexually without consent, are bragging about sexual assault, or anything like that.
Bad Idea: Anything less than standing up for what is right.
Comments