Sexual Harassment – why are we surprised?

This type of activity is not limited to the powerful, famous, and rich. It takes place all the way down to store, the shop, the fast-food restaurant and even the church.

St. Petersburg, Fl

Opinion by: E. Eugene Webb PhD
Author: In Search of Robin, So You Want to Blog.

As they like to say where I come from, you could hardly swing a dead cat this week without hitting a politician, actor, news anchors or some other celebrity who was involved in some sordid type of sexual harassment or sexual misconduct.

They were everywhere from the morning news to halls of Congress and pretty much everywhere in-between.

Many seemed “shocked” by the sudden public revelation of all this aggressive behavior. Fact is it’s been going on since the beginning of recorded history. Men, universally in power exert that power to impose their will on women.

From City hall to the statehouse and on to Congress the charges of improper sexual advances by men toward women began as a trickle and has morphed into a torrent.

This type of activity is not limited to the powerful, famous, and rich. It takes place all the way down to store, the shop, the fast-food restaurant and even the church.

Women are feeling empowered to come forward, and they should. The rest of us needs to support these women as the powerful use the primary defense tactic of trying to discredit their accusers. The defense is also as old as time.

Locally, we have a St. Pete Mayor, who shelters a chief of staff who reportedly solicited sexual favors from an under aged girl and a State Senator, who is doing everything he can to discredit one of his several accusers.

Neither is acceptable.

Where is our moral compass?

Why is it so difficult for politicians to move against those of their own who are guilty of these acts?

At least, the media and some businesses are moving quickly to take away the very power that allows this type of behavior. When will the politicians quit mealy mouthing around and do something besides talk?

When will city councils, county commissions, state legislatures and the courts protect the victims and stop providing sanctuary for the guilty?

This could be a tipping point in our society where finally women do not have to be afraid to speak up when they are improperly treated, or it may just be a blip on the sexual harassment radar.

For now, it looks like women are getting the respect they deserve, and it is up to all of us to support them.

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