tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13083972.post8455876128649115231..comments2023-09-29T06:00:09.242-05:00Comments on Julie Pippert: Using My Words: When it comes to sexual harassment, it's the little things that bleed you to deathJulie Pipperthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03169574697104642479noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13083972.post-89155521612871448812008-01-20T20:45:00.000-06:002008-01-20T20:45:00.000-06:00This is so appalling, I can't even figure out what...This is so appalling, I can't even figure out what to say. What horrifies me most is that sexual harrassment is so common, to the varying degrees. I'm so glad that you are writing about this.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13083972.post-14070338706423561252008-01-17T23:40:00.000-06:002008-01-17T23:40:00.000-06:00Julie, thank you for posting this and for being st...Julie, thank you for posting this and for being strong. The strange things about these situations too is they do make us feel like somehow we're the ones who are in the wrong for not stepping ahead sooner or fast enough but the truth is it isn't our fault, it's their fault. You were strong and I'm glad you aren't there anymore.Wayfarer Scientistahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07996334636311497271noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13083972.post-58007394040284496852008-01-17T17:40:00.000-06:002008-01-17T17:40:00.000-06:00I truly believe that Julie is giving a voice to ma...I truly believe that Julie is giving a voice to many, many women out there. Many of us have suffered in silence way too long. I applaud your strength, and hope you find a way to tell the whole story one day, even going so far as being able to identify the company. Exposure like that is sometimes what it takes to make crap like that stop.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13083972.post-17904550242742517262008-01-16T22:55:00.000-06:002008-01-16T22:55:00.000-06:00Oh Julie - just back from being away and reading t...Oh Julie - just back from being away and reading this post makes me go "yay" for you being such a great mum to your girls and showing them the way.<BR/><BR/>I worked in advertising and was once told that if I didn't learn to drink with the boys I wouldn't go very far.<BR/><BR/>There were some who did more than drinking.<BR/><BR/>I went far enough to realise I hated so much about the industry, especially the boys clubs to which I would never (even had I wished to) belong.<BR/><BR/>I am sorry that it caused you so much pain - and who will be playing you in the movie?jeaniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17322709527738134797noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13083972.post-9544003430029067782008-01-16T20:45:00.000-06:002008-01-16T20:45:00.000-06:00This made me so angry. SO ANGRY. I can't think of ...This made me so angry. SO ANGRY. I can't think of anything more to say about it, I just hate that you had to work in that environment.Kylahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03311014761113076785noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13083972.post-88998851592882807182008-01-16T15:36:00.000-06:002008-01-16T15:36:00.000-06:00Very sad. And, I agree with most of the comments ...Very sad. And, I agree with most of the comments about how horrible of a situation that was and sadly it happens more than we want.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13083972.post-66279077452318096232008-01-16T15:30:00.000-06:002008-01-16T15:30:00.000-06:00The whole scenario makes me incredibly, sick and a...The whole scenario makes me incredibly, sick and angry. You were 110% in the right; your boss and your subordinates were 110% in the wrong. But oh how I wish you and the other women in your company had been able to sue them for sexual harassment publically... ruin their reputations in the harsh light of the outside world. (That's the lawyer in me speaking; the woman says I understand just wanting to make it end and get out.)<BR/><BR/>Your daughters are lucky to have you raising them.ewe are herehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13339650361453626546noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13083972.post-77757538182826606062008-01-16T12:37:00.000-06:002008-01-16T12:37:00.000-06:00Holy hell, Julie! I'm shaking as I write this. N...Holy hell, Julie! I'm shaking as I write this. Not just as and HR professional but as a woman and, hell, just as a human being. <BR/><BR/>I'd like to think stuff like this doesn't happen anymore...but I'm sure it does.Jenny, the Bloggesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13718481135182612620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13083972.post-42040637839807565462008-01-16T10:34:00.000-06:002008-01-16T10:34:00.000-06:00what a nightmare, julie.what a nightmare, julie.painted maypolehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06446625015003854710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13083972.post-75758943545535518952008-01-16T09:06:00.000-06:002008-01-16T09:06:00.000-06:00Oh gods.This makes my stomach hurt, and I wasn't e...Oh gods.<BR/><BR/>This makes my stomach hurt, and I wasn't even there. So glad you got out.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13083972.post-22957818397884294092008-01-15T23:37:00.000-06:002008-01-15T23:37:00.000-06:00Hate it when our attempts to de-sexualize the work...Hate it when our attempts to de-sexualize the workplace are met with derision and contempt. It took centuries for this attitude to become woven into the fabric of the workplace. We're newcomers. I sympathize and can only offer that we are trying to raise our sons to be respectful human beings. Uphill battle, that.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13083972.post-71697989713827260572008-01-15T22:13:00.000-06:002008-01-15T22:13:00.000-06:00Oh, Julie. What a wretched environment that must h...Oh, Julie. What a wretched environment that must have been. <BR/><BR/>Good for you for calling them on it. And good for you for teaching your children about boundaries.Cathy, Amy and Kristinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01472486650115997239noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13083972.post-53496363042808453652008-01-15T21:48:00.000-06:002008-01-15T21:48:00.000-06:00Mike Huckabee - who actually has a shot at the Rep...Mike Huckabee - who actually has a shot at the Republican nomination for President - said in a public debate yesterday that he believes wives should "be submissive" to their husbands. This has all got to stop.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13083972.post-82027474633030902682008-01-15T21:06:00.000-06:002008-01-15T21:06:00.000-06:00I'm sorry you had to go through that. What an ...O...I'm sorry you had to go through that. What an ...<BR/><BR/>Ok, I won't even go there.<BR/><BR/>But good for you for standing your ground.annehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01306851407588054538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13083972.post-85197724297021323322008-01-15T20:52:00.000-06:002008-01-15T20:52:00.000-06:00Now I get your e-mail - I hadn't read this post ye...Now I get your e-mail - I hadn't read this post yet! My situation was different but I was also accused of being "not fun" and "lacking a sense of humor" which always puts me on guard. As if I am at fault if I don't think your poor judgment is funny. And in the end, I was fired for not discussing my workout routine with my sort-of boss. <BR/><BR/>I am glad that you stood your ground, I know how difficult that must have been. I do wish I had been better about doing that myself. I've thought before, what if I had a script, what I should have said, instead of just getting angry and embarrassed, and then I am even more pissed that I should have needed such "lines",<BR/><BR/>I hope by sharing your story you can help others to see how right they are and to have the strength to stand up for themselves.<BR/><BR/>Oh and I can't stand when people say to my kids, "I need a kiss or a hug", when my kids don't want to. I've made it clear to them that they NEVER have to do those things if they don't want to, even if it is a relative. This is one case where having a child with issues comes in handy, as in, "he doesn't like the way that feels and will have a meltdown, so leave him alone."Lori at Spinning Yellowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09820406823337728514noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13083972.post-72248774587418156402008-01-15T20:04:00.000-06:002008-01-15T20:04:00.000-06:00I believe you were right also.. and hell simply is...I believe you were right also.. and hell simply isn't hot enough.... you know?thailandchanihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10171731740204067889noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13083972.post-44702753263968141922008-01-15T19:20:00.000-06:002008-01-15T19:20:00.000-06:00Uh, Julie. Just reading over my comment and I want...Uh, Julie. Just reading over my comment and I want to add that I in no way whatsoever want to make light of what you went through. That crap is evil and must change and is not changing fast enough. <BR/><BR/>It's just that when I read your post I thought of this other woman and my stomach knotted up for her as well.Madhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13416585771017767796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13083972.post-34362679921117025912008-01-15T19:00:00.000-06:002008-01-15T19:00:00.000-06:00When I played women's hockey out here there was a ...When I played women's hockey out here there was a woman on my team, a lesbian and a high-school drop-out who had worked the last 20 years in the mill (forestry is big here). Even at that she was only in her mid-thirties. When she would tell of the harassment she endured in her work place, I felt like vomiting. For her, there were no other options. No education. No skills. Living in nowhere-ville. When I read your story I feel anger for what you endured and I am grateful that you could eventually leave--scarred but not broken. When I think of blue collar women in this situation I feel nothing but sickness and dread for this world.Madhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13416585771017767796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13083972.post-18021383287537162652008-01-15T16:57:00.000-06:002008-01-15T16:57:00.000-06:00Oh, that makes me SO angry! What a toxic work env...Oh, that makes me SO angry! What a toxic work environment. And a lawsuit waiting to happen.<BR/><BR/>I must admit there are men I work with who, if they made jokes about their sex lives, etc..., I wouldn't think twice about it, in the same way I might not think twice about some female co-worker saying the same thing. Because we're friends in addition to being co-workers. But Sonia is right, there is a fine line between having a sense of humor and sexual harassment.<BR/><BR/><BR/>Usually people aren't quite so overt about the hostility towards women. It's usually the verbal jokes and the comments to lighten up and then the office party that gets out of control and we're supposed to laugh it all off. That's worrisome as well because where exactly do we draw the line? And it's a slippery slope....Lawyer Mamahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06819273107327846943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13083972.post-14931557324130190822008-01-15T15:19:00.000-06:002008-01-15T15:19:00.000-06:00You would think people would just play it safe and...You would think people would just play it safe and not send around stupid email jokes of any kind at work...<BR/><BR/>My stomach is clenching now, too.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13083972.post-91937654099886493932008-01-15T15:04:00.000-06:002008-01-15T15:04:00.000-06:00When your boss undermines your authority so severe...When your boss undermines your authority so severely there's really nothing more for you to do. I wouldn't have thought any less of you if you'd turned around and walked out the door at that moment. The fact that you *didn't*, however, shows your true strength of character.<BR/><BR/>He and that employee deserve each other. <BR/><BR/>I know your girls will grow up to be strong and proud. Which is exactly what the world needs. Thanks, Julie.<BR/><BR/>HeidiFamily Adventurehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00093360285075029799noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13083972.post-87283116942381038432008-01-15T14:52:00.000-06:002008-01-15T14:52:00.000-06:00I know it's not surprise but I've also worked in a...I know it's not surprise but I've also worked in an office environment similar to the one you described. It was a small software company ... mostly men and a few women who were OK with the men behaving like sexual idiots. It was such an uncomfortable environment and there was nothing I could do to change it. Good for you for not giving up.Michelehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10058386764811033042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13083972.post-16414430198956734542008-01-15T14:28:00.000-06:002008-01-15T14:28:00.000-06:00My reaction to this story is to see, immediately, ...My reaction to this story is to see, immediately, why a person would stay so long in this kind of environment. In your last post, it seemed so obvious - of COURSE you should leave a toxic working environment, of course you'd be happier out of that situation. But then I read this post, and I'm hungry for the ending where you WIN: where everyone is punished appropriately and made to apologize and admit that they were wrong. I can see the temptation to stay in and somehow defeat the system, no matter how impossible and even pointless that would be.Beahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15957626443087438904noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13083972.post-36367042157587325502008-01-15T13:49:00.000-06:002008-01-15T13:49:00.000-06:00These stories are important ones to tell, especial...These stories are important ones to tell, especially in this day and age. I happen to work in a great environment now as an engineering manager with male reports beneath me and male bosses above me. Everyone is well behaved in that respect. But there are issues that I still face and it is hard to network and find people who can understand where I am coming from. I hate to be all professional all the time and yet I can't really befriend any of these guys. I find it difficult to tell an older male report if they did something wrong. But thankfully, I have your posts which bring the female voice to the workplace. Thanks, Julie. And thank goodness you've gotten out of there without being thrown off the train!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13083972.post-86280513683456229412008-01-15T13:45:00.000-06:002008-01-15T13:45:00.000-06:00I feel like I have been completely naive about rea...I feel like I have been completely naive about realities in the business world. As awful as this is, I'm glad to have read it because, as a mother of daughters, I need to be aware. Thank you for this eloquent post.Jennyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04725549451973770515noreply@blogger.com