Opinion

Student response to sexual harassment allegations

It feels like an earthquake. Years of silence and then suddenly, commotion out of nowhere. The ground moving, shaking, and changing right beneath our feet.

Recently, we’ve watched beloved icons and stars fall from grace as the #MeToo movement sparked a domino effect in Hollywood and in our political sphere; however, not often do we highlight sexual harassment happening close to home or in the workplace.

Workplace rules and regulations have come a long way in a short amount of time but, the unsolicited ‘over-intimate’ comments and ‘off-color- sexual jokes are, unfortunately, commonplace. It seems that they’ve become acceptable when in fact, their crude and inappropriate.

I’m no self proclaimed ‘social justice warrior’ but, I do believe that everyone, no matter their gender, should be free from objectification in their workplace and every other area of their life.

As 2017 came to a close, we saw more and more people all across the country open up about their experiences with sexual harassment, encouraged to speak out, no longer silenced by their fear.

Who wouldn’t be scared to come forward? As a woman, I sometimes feel as if I am nothing more than the pieces of myself that make up my physical appearance. Yet, those pieces of myself are the only things I am judged for. I feel dehumanized.

After an earthquake comes more silence. The quiet builds up slowly until the ground moves once again.

Silence does nothing for us, the quiet is painful and unnerving.

Change starts with a movement, and I can feel the ground shaking.

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