The news is full of people who, from a place of authority and power, have been accused of, or have admitted to, inappropriate sexual behavior in the workplace. That’s no secret, of course. Such actions have been around as long as there have been men, women, and positions of power. Back when I was about 20, a boss put his hands on a 19-year-old female of my acquaintance against her will. I paid him a friendly visit backed up by threats of violence and mayhem and that stopped the behavior, in her case at least.
But not every woman has a champion to come to her rescue and, in this day and age, she may not need one. Creeps in the workplace simply can’t do whatever they want to do and then just get by with it. Now, there is a great deal of news being made by the men who abuse their office or position by putting women in uncomfortable positions.
Recently, a high-powered Hollywood player discovered that his unwanted attentions finally came back to bite him. People who had never heard of this guy saw his name on the news daily as, like clockwork, women, actresses mostly, came out from the shadows to expose him to the light of day. He lost his job and is now a pariah in the business. A one wildly popular comedian seems to be ending his very successful days in disgrace after a large number of women have made sexual allegations against him.
In the world of mainstream and cable news, two major personalities from FOX News were drummed out after women came forward to report that these men had allegedly said and/or done that which was sexually inappropriate. Even a broadcaster from the venerable CBS network was given the heave-ho as allegations came out against him from women in his past.
In the world of politics, President Bill Clinton, President Donald Trump, Judge Roy Moore, and a slew of other office holders have been accused of abusing their power. In fact, it seems that something like $17,000,000 in settlements — also known as “taxpayer dollars” — has been paid out to settle claims of sexual inappropriateness against members of Congress.
The issue seems to be sex but it really is about power, in many if not most of these cases. It is one thing for two adults to have a sexual relationship, as adulterous and immoral as it may be.
It is quite another when one of the “partners” believes that, if she doesn’t submit, or that she complains, there will be actions taken against her, often in the form of demotion, a cessation of upward mobility, or outright firing. It has always been wrong to take advantage of those in a lesser position and it is still wrong. It is wrong to shower any inappropriate behavior on someone who does not wish it.
In the past, if a female did not have a “champion,” her choices were limited…put up with it or leave the job. That is no longer true. Perhaps that is why some of these allegations are so old, some back as far as 40 years. It is still true that one is innocent until proven guilty. That cannot be denied or surrendered.
However, the subordinates are powerless no more. Between the media, the laws, and the attorneys, women can fight back. No longer is the choice to “put up or leave.”
My guess is that there are hundreds, if not tens of thousands, of nervous men who are wondering if a dime will be dropped on them. They should be worried. Women are fighting back. Good for them!
[David Epps is the pastor of the Cathedral of Christ the King, Sharpsburg, GA between Newnan and Peachtree City (www.ctkcec.org). He is the bishop of the Mid-South Diocese which consists of Georgia and Tennessee (www.midsouthdiocese.org) and the Associate Endorser for the Department of the Armed Forces, U. S. Military Chaplains, ICCEC. He may contacted at frepps@ctkcec.org.]
