As workplaces, universities, in communities, and any number of other environments struggle to come to terms with years, decades, and generations of ignoring, tolerating, or encouraging the violence of men against women, the question of accountability has been thrust to the forefront of our collective conversation. Banishment is an appropriate and necessary recourse against powerful individuals who have abused their position to dominate and assault vulnerable people in their sphere of influence. However, punitive punishment alone, whether through banishment or incarceration, will not achieve the necessary changes that will bring about an end to our culture of violence.
A committee of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine studied sexual harassment in the context of STEM fields through an exhaustive study of 20-years worth of peer-reviewed research, in addition to original interview-based research conducted over the last two years. A foundational understanding of The Bridges We Burn is that men’s violence is fostered through rape culture; enacted by individuals who are a product of a violent culture that socializes toxic identities and mandates men’s domination and the subjugation of women, gay men, queer folks, and other identities. The study, Sexual Harassment of Women: Climate, Culture, and Consequences in Academic Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (2018), supports this view, and recognizes that in order to truly address sexual harassment in the workplace, it must be treated as a cultural phenomenon rather than an individual offense.
We all play a role in ending a culture of violence, and in the workplace that is dependent on those in power taking harassment seriously, caring about individuals (regardless of their role, status, or position in the company), believing victims, and setting an example that abusive or violent behavior is antithetical to the culture and values of the organization, and will not be ignored, tolerated, or encouraged. No one individual should be valued above others, regardless of how important they might be seen as, how much influence they have, how much revenue they generate, or any of indicator of success or importance. That mentality has prevailed for too long, and thanks to the #metoo movement, accountability, empathy, and community building are taking precedence.
– Brett Goldberg
Read summaries of the report via Huffington Post or American School & University, or the full report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine via the National Academies Press.
