Harassment in the House (And The Senate)
Washington DC — Much of the focus of the American Media and attention this week will be on the Senate, as the debate about the tax bill will flare to a dramatic conclusion, however an important moment in American politics is occurring in the House, as Sexual Harassment training will now be mandatory for all members of the body.
This vote comes amid an interesting time across the United States as more and more accounts of Sexual Harassment are coming out of the woodwork. Both Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) have made strong statements about a policy of “zero-tolerance”, but each have had moments regarding fellow party members that have made this line seem a thin one. This all comes as outrage that private employers are acting at quicker speeds than Congress on this issue is starting to boil up.
Members, such as Kathleen Rice (D-NY) and though have expressed doubts that this is being taken seriously as an issue. Another representative, Jackie Speier (D-CA) has called the process that currently goes on an “Institution-Saving Process”. On the floor of the house, several stories were told about experiences, which definitely begs the question about just how rampant is sexual harassment at the capitol? The current answer seems to be “More Than You Know”.
The Young Democrats of America College Caucus sees this as a near and dear issue to our heart as many of our friends have experienced moments of Sexual Harassment, and even Sexual Assault, on campus. This is an unacceptable behavior, both on our campuses across the nation and our capitals. While training is a beginning, our caucus believes that a complete “zero-tolerance” policy needs to be enacted, and the processes behind reporting sexual and unwanted attention in our halls of governance need to be investigated to their fullest and changed to represent a more fair process to the victims, many of them College Students and recent grads like ourselves. We stand with Representative Kathleen Rice and others who stand against a system of injustice for these victims who have suffered in silence for too long, training is not enough, we must actively prevent this from happening to more women.
Authors Note: I have had the experience to have dated three women who have been sexually assaulted on their campus. Only one of them was able to actually tell her story and her attacker was removed from campus without any incident being known to the public. Even she faced persecution from others after her story was told, and was almost removed from her sorority for it. Sexual Harassment and Assault is not just an “incident”, it’s a invisible mark you wear that you cannot remove for your entire life. Even when you think you are healed and you are safe, the trauma comes back, and so does the haunting knowledge that while for them, this was a moment, one they will probably forget, for you it is always fresh. As a society, we have to understand what I now do.
