It's My Body; Do Not Touch
What is normal in a daily relationship between a man and a woman? Is it normal that a man's eyes drift to the woman's breasts frequently? Is it normal that he brush against her, having the entire office space to move in? Is it normal for him to casually lay his hand on her thigh?
Obviously, it's not normal. He is invading her personal space uninvited. But if she complains, she'll just be told it's his way of working, of responding. Yet he doesn't do the same with male co-workers, just the females. If the woman decides to speak with a lawyer, the lawyer will tell her that she has no case. It's not against the law for a man to show a woman that she's attractive. It is still extremely difficult to prove a case of sexual harassment, at least in Spain. For every case that is won, there must be thousands that don't even get filed. Because the woman will be told the man simply finds her attractive and that nothing bad has happened. It's still considered normal in Spain for a man to catcall or otherwise express his approval of a woman's appearance.
In Spain, sexual harassment and assault seem to be coming back up after a small drop these past years. Possibly the drop was due to the crisis, and the fear of losing a job, no matter how deplorable the relationship with a co-worker. Fortunately, the total number of rapes has dropped, but, again, it's such a personal tragedy, and might involve one's livelihood, that not all are denounced to the police. Or, at least that's what statistics say at the Instituto de la Mujer.
Girls are taught that they are equal in dignity to boys, and that they shouldn't be treated differently simply because they are girls. But then, in the real world, things are not so easy. There are jobs that don't even consider women as candidates, others where a woman is paid much less than a man. One reason they're paid less is that men are still considered the heads of the household, and therefore need to support a family. (Not that the wages of many new jobs can support one person, let alone a family.) Women are still considered appendages that should help the man's image. Though many women have joined the workforce in these past thirty years, too many of them are considered temporary workers until they get married and have children. After that, it becomes more difficult for an unskilled woman to find a job. Many stores that call for assistants want very young women, only. They contract them for six months, pay them a miserable wage, and then look for another young woman. They do that because if they were to renew the contract, they would have to give a pay-raise. The government has also had mistaken initiatives of rewarding small businesses that hire young people, especially women, with tax deductions. The businesses simple hire young people for a short period of time, fire and rehire, and get the deductions every time they do so.
Women in Spain have come a very long way since their grandmother's heyday, just fifty years ago. But they still have a very long way to go. That's one reason Donald Trump's problems with sexual harassment is making the rounds of the newsrooms. Politically correct society considers him an aberration. You don't do that to women anymore. They are not there simply for the sexual gratification of a man. The reality is still the opposite. Too many men still think women are there for them. Too many men still think women belong in the kitchen or the bedroom. Too many men still consider women as objects that can be beautiful and attractive to show them off, or ugly and only fit to do menial work hidden away from the public.
At least it is no longer considered macho to boast of one's conquests with women. Some do, but they are also known for the lying boors they are. My husband knows one like that. Recently retired, the man is single, lives with his brother and his family, and has never been known to have even a nodding acquaintance with a woman. Yet he talks about them as sexual objects and has hinted at his former prowess. Perhaps that is Donald's Trump's problem; all bluster and no substance. I bet if it weren't for his millions, that his wife and ex-wives would never even have looked at him twice.
Obviously, it's not normal. He is invading her personal space uninvited. But if she complains, she'll just be told it's his way of working, of responding. Yet he doesn't do the same with male co-workers, just the females. If the woman decides to speak with a lawyer, the lawyer will tell her that she has no case. It's not against the law for a man to show a woman that she's attractive. It is still extremely difficult to prove a case of sexual harassment, at least in Spain. For every case that is won, there must be thousands that don't even get filed. Because the woman will be told the man simply finds her attractive and that nothing bad has happened. It's still considered normal in Spain for a man to catcall or otherwise express his approval of a woman's appearance.
In Spain, sexual harassment and assault seem to be coming back up after a small drop these past years. Possibly the drop was due to the crisis, and the fear of losing a job, no matter how deplorable the relationship with a co-worker. Fortunately, the total number of rapes has dropped, but, again, it's such a personal tragedy, and might involve one's livelihood, that not all are denounced to the police. Or, at least that's what statistics say at the Instituto de la Mujer.
Girls are taught that they are equal in dignity to boys, and that they shouldn't be treated differently simply because they are girls. But then, in the real world, things are not so easy. There are jobs that don't even consider women as candidates, others where a woman is paid much less than a man. One reason they're paid less is that men are still considered the heads of the household, and therefore need to support a family. (Not that the wages of many new jobs can support one person, let alone a family.) Women are still considered appendages that should help the man's image. Though many women have joined the workforce in these past thirty years, too many of them are considered temporary workers until they get married and have children. After that, it becomes more difficult for an unskilled woman to find a job. Many stores that call for assistants want very young women, only. They contract them for six months, pay them a miserable wage, and then look for another young woman. They do that because if they were to renew the contract, they would have to give a pay-raise. The government has also had mistaken initiatives of rewarding small businesses that hire young people, especially women, with tax deductions. The businesses simple hire young people for a short period of time, fire and rehire, and get the deductions every time they do so.
Women in Spain have come a very long way since their grandmother's heyday, just fifty years ago. But they still have a very long way to go. That's one reason Donald Trump's problems with sexual harassment is making the rounds of the newsrooms. Politically correct society considers him an aberration. You don't do that to women anymore. They are not there simply for the sexual gratification of a man. The reality is still the opposite. Too many men still think women are there for them. Too many men still think women belong in the kitchen or the bedroom. Too many men still consider women as objects that can be beautiful and attractive to show them off, or ugly and only fit to do menial work hidden away from the public.
At least it is no longer considered macho to boast of one's conquests with women. Some do, but they are also known for the lying boors they are. My husband knows one like that. Recently retired, the man is single, lives with his brother and his family, and has never been known to have even a nodding acquaintance with a woman. Yet he talks about them as sexual objects and has hinted at his former prowess. Perhaps that is Donald's Trump's problem; all bluster and no substance. I bet if it weren't for his millions, that his wife and ex-wives would never even have looked at him twice.
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| Take us back to the Dark Ages. |
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