When employees involved in the entertainment industry finally shed light on years of sexual harassment with their lawyers’ help, the world took notice. After all, plenty of women had stayed silent for a long time.
In fact, as the #MeToo movement spread, it became a springboard for women everywhere to speak out against injustice, inequality, and harassment.
Today, female workers from a variety of industries have boldly stepped forward in an effort to curb sexual harassment in their own fields. One of the latest industries to go under the #MeToo microscope is economics.
Allegations of Sexual Harassment in Economics
According to a recent New York Times report, women economists allege an atmosphere of bullying and harassment within the industry. Many long-time women and men in the economics field say the issue has been pervasive for generations.
The problem has become so well-documented and spotlighted that it became one of the platforms of the yearly meeting of the American Economic Association (AEA). During the large gathering, women economists discussed their experiences with bullying and harassment, and issued demands for more immediately available help for victims.
Though the AEA accepted a code of conduct in 2018 that includes nods to equality and integrity, both female and male economists admit the industry has a long way to go in terms of undoing its historic hostility toward female workers.
The hope among sexual harassment victims and advocacy groups is that airing true stories of discrimination will help end problems female economists have long faced. Doing so would help to bring the advantages of true diversity into a Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) field.
Signs of Sexual Harassment in the Workplace
The field of economics likely will not be the last to feel the ripple effects of #MeToo. More industries are continuing to follow.
However, women must feel confident in both identifying and reporting inappropriate workplace behaviors, particularly of a sexual or discriminatory nature, before they can speak their truths.
Unfortunately, this can be difficult. Why? Because although many women are well-versed in overt sexual harassment, they may miss more subtle signs of it.
Some of the more subtle but serious types of on-the-job sexual harassment experienced by women include:
- Being forced to listen to sexually charged stories from colleagues and leaders.
- Being asked about sexual proclivities, habits, preferences, etc.
- Being asked to wear or not wear certain items of clothing.
- Being expected to “look the other way” when men “behave like men.”
- Feeling as if they cannot ask their male peers or supervisors to behave respectfully.
- Feeling as if they are expected to offer sexual favors in exchange for raises, promotions, etc.
- Receiving unsolicited, unwanted sexually charged texts or emails.
- Being verbally abused by male coworkers.
If a woman feels that she has been victimized by any of these types of behaviors, she may want to talk with a Middletown sexual harassment lawyer. These types of practices can lead to hostile workplace situations. Sexual harassment rarely goes away on its own.
Middletown Sexual Harassment Lawyers at McOmber McOmber & Luber, P.C. Assist Victims of Gender Discrimination
If you have been sexually harassed in the workplace, please contact the Middletown sexual harassment lawyers at McOmber McOmber & Luber, P.C. to discuss your situation. We offer free private consultations to help you understand what your rights are. If you decide to pursue a lawsuit, we will fight for your right to work without injustice or discrimination. Call our Red Bank office at 732-842-6500, our Marlton office at 856-985-9800, our Newark office at 973-878-9040, or contact us at 888-396-0736 or online for a free consultation. We represent clients throughout New Jersey.