WORKPLACE VIOLENCE – Page 2 – When The Abuser Goes To Work…

When Married Women Bully Single Women

When I read a letter to the editor signed “Mrs. John Doe” or “J’s wife”, I feel irritation.

This is a mild form of “women-to -women” violence that often is overlooked and underappreciated.

As a woman from the generation that fought for civil rights for women, I recognize the patriarchal symbolism of “Mrs.” as opposed to the gender neutral “Ms.”

Women who identify publicly as an appendage of a spouse, knowingly or not, display an historic form of gender superiority. They tell the world they have worth because they are not a “spinster” or “old maid.” Their message subtly stigmatizes single women.

A recent study in China found “extensive evidence” of women-to-women violence, primarily psychological, targeting urban unmarried women over the age of 30.

“Notably, most of the direct perpetrators of violent acts against single women are married women, who are seen to accept and defend the patriarchal society and value system to viilfy the existence of single women,” writes author Shaoefen Tang.

A Loophole For Sexual Harassers In The U.S. Judiciary

Alex Kozinski on The Dating Game in 2006.

An upcoming book chronicles a loophole that allows federal judges to not only evade accountability for sexual harassment and bullying but to go on to enjoy a full salary for life and future professional acclaim.

Martha C. Nussbaum, in Citadels of Pride, to be published May 11 by W. W. Norton & Co., explores the tainted career of a former appellate judge who was celebrated for his brilliance, Alex Kozinski, a one-time chief judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in San Francisco.

Nussbaum, a professor of law and ethics at the University of Chicago, says the Kozinski case shows the “structural weaknesses” of judicial codes of conduct. “E]van an egregious abuser can survive for twenty years if he is bright, flamboyant, well-connected and shameless,” she writes.

The loophole that worked for Kozinski – and others – is that he was permitted to resign in 2017 after more than a dozen women accused him of sexual harassment. Because he was retired, he was eligible to receive his pension – which was his full salary – for the rest of his life.

Workplace Bullying At The New York Times

Bari Weiss, an opinion editor at the New York Times, resigned Tuesday, citing “constant bullying” by coworkers opposed to her efforts to encourage centrist views on the Times opinion page.

Weiss was hired three years ago to work in the paper’s opinion section after the Times failed to anticipate the outcome of the 2016 election, evincing an embarrassing failure of the nation’s supposed paper of record to understand broad national sentiment. She was charged with incorporating the voices of conservatives and centrists in the Times left-leaning editorial page.

Weiss states she met fierce resistance from within that spurred “unlawful discrimination, hostile work environment, and constructive discharge. I’m no legal expert. But I know that this is wrong.” (Hmmm … legal terms. Will she sue?)

Also Tuesday, New York Times Magazine writer Andrew Sullivan, who recently pushed back on claims by the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement, also submitted his resignation. He wrote on Twitter the “underlying reasons for the split are pretty self-evident” but will be explained in his last column on Friday. Continue reading “Workplace Bullying At The New York Times”

The System Works Just Fine For The Harvey Weinsteins Of This World

by Patricia G. Barnes

- - Note: Harvey Weinstein was found guilty on 2/24/20 of rape and criminal sexual acts after a trial in which six women testified that he had sexually assaulted them. He was acquitted on three other counts, including the two most serious charges against him — that he is a sexual predator.

Ah, the irony.

Donna Rotunno, a lead attorney for disgraced movie mogul and alleged sexual predator Harvey Weinstein, recently penned an editorial for Newsweek Magazine bemoaning the state of the U.S. Justice system.

She writes:

“The United States justice system has proven fair and effective throughout the history of our nation. But not always.”

Rotunno goes on to implore jurors in the Weinstein trial to do what they know is right, which is code for acquitting Weinstein.

The Weinstein jury told the judge Friday that they are unable to reach a verdict on the two predatory sexual assault counts but are unanimous on the other three counts. The judge told them to keep deliberating.

Contrary to Rotunno, the real problem with America’s justice system is not how it treats multimillionaires who can afford a team of pit bull advocates and jury consultants, but how it treats women and girls who are victims of sexual assault.

The system repeatedly fails to acknowledge that sexual assault is a serious injury suffered by one out of every five women. More than a third of the victims are raped before the age of 18. The vast majority suffer post-traumatic stress.

The system works just fine for the Weinstein’s of this world.

For the system to work for Weinstein’s victims, however, jurors must divest themselves of stereotypes about women and class prejudice.

If a woman is naïve, poor and desperate for success, she isn’t necessarily lying about being assaulted in a hotel room by the most power producer in the world.

If a woman isn’t the equivalent of the Virgin Mary, she does not forfeit her right to be free from sexually assault. Continue reading “The System Works Just Fine For The Harvey Weinsteins Of This World”

Mexico And Canada Act On Psychological Violence In The Workplace While America Buries Its Head In the Sand

The U.S. continues to trail the rest of the developed world by ignoring the serious problem of psychological violence in the workplace.

The U.S. is now being surpassed by both of its neighbors, Mexico and Canada.

This despite a spate of workplace shootings that should at least raise questions about the problem of psychological violence in the workplace.

Mexico’s Ministry of Labor and Social Security last year published in its official gazette a set of regulations addressing risks posed by psychological violence in the workplace called Federal Regulation of Health and Safety at Work. These regulations require employers to identify, analyze and prevent work-related psychological risks. They will go into effect on Oct. 23, 2019.

The regulations also require large Mexican employers to adopt measures to prevent and control psychological risks, address acts of violence, and promote a healthy workplace environment.

Continue reading “Mexico And Canada Act On Psychological Violence In The Workplace While America Buries Its Head In the Sand”