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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