How this Guy’s Workplace Sexual Harassment Experiences Led to #MeToo Empathy

Now, that Harvey’s in jail, I think it might be a good time for me to #MeToo too. At the risk of being pilloried for venturing into a #MeToo minefield and being accused of trying to co-opt the movement, steal focus, or “play the victim,” I want to share my personal experiences of sexual harassment in the workplace.

I’m not looking for sympathy, but rather just to give a first-hand account of how men can and are sexually harassed at work, too. Of course, it happens to guys a lot less, and though I’ve suffered no long-term ill-effects from these experiences, recalling them helps me empathize with the women who are harassed and have little or no recourse.

Empathizing with women’s frustration and anger is a good thing for straight-old-white guys like me. So in short, “I believe her…’cause it happened to me.” I didn’t ask for it. I wasn’t wearing anything provocative. I was just there. I had very little power and that’s the real dynamic behind sexual harassment — people with power taking advantage of people with little or none.

It first happened at the Christmas party
When I was considerably younger, just out of college, and working my first full-time job, I suffered the indignity of getting my ass pinched by a senior male co-worker at the organization’s Christmas party. I was furious, though I could laugh about it…all these years later I still can recall the violation vividly.