In continuation of my previous blog, I would like to provide more details about the story itself, in order to further analyze the experience. To begin with, I eventually did confront this individual after I realized that ignoring him wasn't the ideal way to handle the situation. One day I just had enough of his B.S. and I snapped. I do believe that I got my point across to him that I wasn't going to tolerate anymore of the sexual harassment at my job. Now, I know for a fact he wouldn't have gotten away with this at his place of employment. After this strong confrontation on my part, I will say that from that point on he kept his distance. So... to quote Foucault again, "Such situations can be resisted and changed" (Gauntlett 128), I did take control of the situation and resist. In fact, it wasn't the first time that I have had to deal with men like this in a work-related situation. I will say it's much easier when there is an Human Resources Dept. to go to that will support women in these situations. Unfortunately, in this particular situation, there was no HR department for me to go to.
First, this place was an Italian men's club/fraternity that happened to have a business attached to the club. This part was open to the public for all types of events...which is where I worked and had a senior level position. Second, the club itself was made up mostly of an older generation of men, and who only accepted members that could prove their lineage on their maternal or paternal side. Third, the club's Board of Directors (of course...all men) ran the club itself, as well as the business side of this place. (As I write this I'm thinking of the Vatican - very similar in how it's strictly men. Sometimes, I even felt as if I was in the middle of an episode of the movie, "The Godfather." So, although there were many good men that belonged to this club, there were many that were naive and clueless about how to treat women. In reality though, a woman can encounter this type disparity in any business. There are good ones and bad ones! In Gauntlett's book, "Media, Gender, and Identity" he writes, "The principal jobs in businesses and organizations are no doubt protected by a "culture of men" at the top. To further this idea, Gauntlett writes about some researchers who studied Cambridge University, in order to find out why there weren't many women represented in top positions there. He writes that researchers identified "an insular and secretive "macho" culture, dominated by white males"(6). Although, I gave a very overt example of this in that, this club was and is no secret, I think there are many similar institutions like Cambridge University that amazingly haven't evolved with the times.
While analyzing this situation further, I think that because this guy knew he wasn't at his own place of employment, he assumed that he could get away with his behavior. The fact that he knew that he was in his own private club, a member of the Board of Directors, and also understood how their system worked (they all stick together like glue)...I believe that in his mind... this gave him a license to behave this way. As I found out the hard way, we women that worked in their business were somehow thought less of, possibly because we were outsiders, and obviously not men. So, no matter how hard I worked, or how professional I acted and dressed, I was not going to be taken seriously, especially there. Furthermore, as he said to me, "I made the place look good." So, I guess I was only there for his viewing pleasure. This is definitely disgusting and backwards from a gender perspective, and because it's the 21st century and we're well into the mission of equality in the workplace. But, maybe the statement is true that, "You can't teach an old dog new tricks." I could go on and explain from a psychological point of view what else I think was wrong with him, but that's another class.
Does this analysis make more sense from a gender-perspective? Does this identify Foucault's view about power getting constructed differently in different settings?"
I think you definitely demonstrated Foucault's idea of power when you took control of the situation and confronted this individual. Foucault states on page 128 that, "Power is not an asset which a person can have; rather, power is something exercised within interactions." With this being said, I think you displayed this idea because you believed in yourself and stood up for yourself. Not a lot of women can do this Colleen. This is something to be very proud of. There is a lot of women out there who would have let this man continue to sexual harass them because he is in a higher authority.
ReplyDeleteI think this analysis makes more sense in an occupational gender-perspective. When I specifically say "occupational" gender perspective because this type of behavior is well known in a business setting. I am so glad you did not tolerate this and put your foot down. I think your second question relates extremely well to your blog. Power does get constructed differently in different settings. It all depends on how the person in authority handles the ultimate control. Very good question!
Colleen, sorry to chime in so late but this absolutely is the perfect example of how power is constructed relationally and in different contexts depending on the person's assessment of how far s/he can go. Of course, that is not true of everyone -- I do try to defuse power issues as much as I can in all contexts so everyone has a win/win outcome but, of course, I'm only human and many contexts position me (or should I say, many people) in ways that other identities kick in, but, we can only keep examining and seeking new responses and solutions. Your analysis of this was informed and layered -- impressive.
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