Sexual harassment, in its many forms is an abuse of power that
gratifies the harasser, but, is also always accompanied by a demand for
secrecy. Typically, the threat takes the form of "if you tell, then terrible
things will happen to you" or, "tell whoever you want because you
won't be believed". Victims, women, men, children, often accede to
silence as the disparity in power is real, people don't listen, and one
could try to fight and still be shoved to the curb, blackballed as a trouble
maker, and viewed as a victim of hysterical and wishful fantasies.
What happens when the work
place is a mission driven charity?
In assorted accounts of the
HSUS (Humane Society of the United States) sexual harassment scandal it was
revealed that victims were also told to stay mum lest they hurt the movement or
cause suffering to animals. This is coercion on steroids as presumably the
belief in the mission of the organization is the tie that binds victim and abuser
together. It is holding an innocent, or vulnerable living thing hostage, to be
harmed if you speak out. Imagine telling someone in a pro-life organization
that if they report harassment and disrupt the work and reputation of the
company babies will die. Imagine the same regarding AIDS work, child abuse,
bullying prevention, or the care of veterans. Of course, one could posit
that taking down someone like Harvey Weinstein could negatively affect his
capacity for philanthropic giving. True, but his victims may not share his
charitable leanings, let alone, be working for said charity.
In other words, you must be groped for the greater good. Truly horrifying. It is unconscionable and a
level of harassment that must not go unnoticed.
spcaLA has always sought to speak for those most easily exploited
and abused. In 1877, we incorporated to not only protect animals but also women
and children. At the time, all were considered property under the law.
For 140 years, spcaLA has been independently serving the Southern
California community. We are not an affiliate or chapter of HSUS, nor any other
spca or humane society.
Your spcaLA is in the business of preventing cruelty, which
includes abuses of power in all forms.
