This is the content of a real case of “sexual harassment” at an American University. The “victim” of this egregious behavior is waiting for the professor, Wentworth, to be punished. Here it is:
Hemenway tried to minimize contact with Wentworth after a meeting on 17 February 2015 that she said was particularly upsetting. According to the complaint, the professor repeatedly called her “honey” and “honey bear” and put his hands on hers while complimenting her and staring intensely into her eyes. [The Guardian 2016-05-27]
The professor also told her that he would never start a relationship with her because she was a student of his. Young girls, you know, are too…. what? I don’t know. Too something to be allowed to choose to have a relationship with an older male.
It is not the law in most jurisdictions. The law thinks young women can be trusted to exercise their own responsible judgement in these matters. These young feminist activists do not trust these women.
Anyway, he said, once she graduated, he might be interested in seeing her. He told her she was attractive. He complained that some other students had accused him of harassment. Yes, there are other complaints against this professor. One wonders if they are of a similar nature. He said I was pretty. He said he liked me. He said I was attractive.
Hemenway has succeeded in rousing an outcry: he must be punished.
Here’s an outcry: is it hard to say, “you’re behaviour is inappropriate and I don’t like it”. And if he continues: “if you don’t stop I will file a complaint with the University Administration”. I gather from the gist of the reporting on this issue that Ms. Hemenway felt that she should not have to say anything. She reports no instances of her telling the professor to bug off. Would old-school feminists like to admit that she was too weak and helpless and unable to actually rouse a personality in that situation?
Professor Wentworth, apparently, should have known that she felt weak and helpless and utterly incapable of functioning as a student when confronted with such terrifying behaviour. I would be curious to hear Ms. Hemenway’s answer to the question: if women are the equal of men, why are you so weak when confronted with such ridiculously inept and tediously inappropriate behaviors? You really can’t stand up to it? You really don’t have enough courage or intelligence to put a stop to it? Your emotional being is so limp and incapable that you can’t find the words? How on earth will you ever get along in the world? How will you ever make tough decisions in the future?
If you are working for some business and negotiating a contract with someone and the person you are negotiating with changes the terms while you are not looking, will you just sign it? If you are organizing a sporting event and a disqualified runner insists you let him race, will you say nothing and register him and then complain bitterly that he oppressed you? If you were clerking in an apparel outlet and someone took two outfits into a change room and came out with one, would you say nothing?
Do you see yourself as having potential? Do you feel that you would be a good employee for a successful company and able to make consequential decisions that affect people’s lives? Would you ever be able to stand up for someone else, let along yourself, in a similar situation? Can you envision a future in which you get your way not by being a victim and demanding that other people step in your behalf and destroy someone’s career because you were horrified by the idea that he liked you, but by standing up for yourself?
Did you pose for that picture in the Guardian, with that expression that appears to be intended to evoke pity? Do you really want to be pitied? Do you want to be known for elaborating on just how weak and vulnerable and helpless you are?
[whohit]And Stared Intensely Into Her Eyes[/whohit]