Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site randvax.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!ittvax!dcdwest!sdcsvax!sdcrdcf!randvax!edhall From: edhall@randvax.UUCP (Ed Hall) Newsgroups: net.women Subject: Re: Crassness in the workplace Message-ID: <2017@randvax.UUCP> Date: Wed, 3-Oct-84 13:38:36 EDT Article-I.D.: randvax.2017 Posted: Wed Oct 3 13:38:36 1984 Date-Received: Sat, 6-Oct-84 06:34:28 EDT References: <411@homxa.UUCP>, <353@cepu.UUCP> Organization: Rand Corp., Santa Monica Lines: 20 The man in the elevator got just what he was looking for: a reaction to his verbal assault. The best thing may well have been to treat him as if he didn't exist, or as if he hadn't said anything. And it would be damn tough to do this; I doubt if I could hide my disgust and anger. But I've known (though not for long) men who make these sorts of verbal assaults, and I know what they're thinking: ``look at how I can make this woman squirm, and she can't do a thing about it!'' It's sexual violence, pure and simple. The sorts of reactions that might humiliate him if he were in a group of men won't work--you can't humiliate him when he's already proven that he has no respect for anyone else present. By the way, not only is verbal sexual assault against the rules at many employers, it is against the law in several states (albeit for rather paternalistic motivations). I kinda doubt such laws are enforced much (except when someone propositions the sheriff's wife :-) ). -Ed Hall decvax!randvax!edhall