By Joseph Mayton
CAIRO – Egyptian women are galvanizing themselves to fight back against sexual harassment after failing to convince their government to act. A movement to eradicate one of Egypt's most enduring social problems has begun following a shocking mob style attack against dozens of women around a cinema in downtown Cairo in 2006.
Clearly, a change has occurred in the attitudes of women -- both Egyptian and foreign. No longer accepting to take the abuse quietly, they have begun to speak out about their own daily experiences of harassment.
Verbal sexual abuse, inappropriate staring, groping, and even violence, are becoming commonplace on Egypt's busy streets, as reported by nearly all women.
"Women have finally begun to speak out and understand that they are not alone, especially after what happened in 2006," said Nehad Abu Komsan, chairwoman of the Egyptian Center for Women's Rights (ECWR).
In October 2006, during the Eid celebrations that follow the holy month of Ramadan, what seemed to have started as one or two incidents spontaneously erupted into a riot where dozens of unrelated young men and boys rampaged the area attacking woman, groping and ripping at them. Shopkeepers were forced to open their doors and allow the victims to escape the terror. A number of injuries were reported to the media, including to the Middle East Times.
When latest asked for a response to the violence, the Egyptian government denied an instance had occurred, arguing that "if something had occurred, people would have filed charges."
In the two years since the downtown Cairo attacks, government officials often say that women are central to the problem.
Mohsen Reda, an Egyptian Member of Parliament, argued that women should be dressed more modestly as "a lot of our youth can't afford marriage, so it is only normal for some harassment to take place."
Women in the country strongly disagree.
"That is strange," began Ola, a 65-year-old retired mother of two women when asked about modesty in Egypt's busy streets.
"Of course he is talking about another nation. If you walk down the street you will see the truth: women are modest," she said. "Sure, you may see a small percentage of young college girls who like to dress in fashion, but that is it."
"Women with headscarves are harassed all the time too," she added.
Another woman blames the government which, says Asma Abdel Khalek, 30, is part of the problem. She says that the inaction by the authorities implicitly allows harassment to continue.
"I think that our government has a hand in this, not direct, but by not cracking down on the perpetrators they abet in this [harassment]," she said.
Despite perceived government lethargy over the issue, new state campaigns have recently emerged, including one aimed largely at men. It called on Egyptian men to think before they participated in harassment.
Using phrases like "your mother" or "your sister" they were an attempt by locally based activists to force men to think about their family members before committing abuses against women.
But they fizzled out after men made fun of the slogans, dirtying the attempts.
The most successful campaign to date has been the ECWR's "Keeping Our Streets Safe" campaign of almost two years. It aims at getting to the heart of the problem through research and workshops that engage society.
A statement from the NGO explained its strategy: "We find that by creating an understanding with facts helps people understand what is going on here. This is a real problem that needs to be faced by all Egyptians, not just women."
Abu Komsan believes that while campaigns and activism are important in combating the persistent problem, she feels that ordinary women can play a role.
"It is not important to be a female figure or a woman's defender; women are an essential part of society, so as long as they are active in different sectors they will defend their rights and other peoples' rights," she argued.
"The problem was that women had no ability to talk, and they felt shame and were afraid of being blamed by society. Now they are less afraid to speak out and know that they are not alone and that harassment is not their. This, in turn, is encouraging Egyptian society to understand what is happening and is helping to solve it," the ECWR chief said.
She referred to the Islamic world's first female notary, Amal Soliman, who is of issuing marriage and divorce certificates in Egypt. Her appointment has created a stir among the male-dominated profession, but Abu Komsan believes it is women like this, who break new ground in society, that will eventually help tear down the stigma surrounding women.
The ECWR head is fully confident that things are going the right way: "I am optimistic about the future," she says.
But whether males will take this problem seriously and begin to change their ways or not is a daily debate among analysts and ordinary Egyptians. One thing is certain, however; women across the country are fed up with being afraid to leave their homes, and they don't want their daughters and future generations of women in Egypt to have to endure such discrimination.
Showing posts with label sexual harassment. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sexual harassment. Show all posts
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Monday, August 18, 2008
Two University of Missouri - Kansas City professors resign rather than face stripping of tenure and firing
Psychology professors S. Carlos Poston II and C. Keith Haddock, University of Missouri-Kansas City professors accused of sexual harassment, resigned last week Monday because they ran out of money to defend themselves from an internal procedure which would have led to revocation of tenure and dismissal from the university.
Both denied sexually harassing a former graduate student and a faculty member, creating a hostile environment in the psychology lab they oversaw. Poston said, “I did not resign because I was guilty of anything. I resigned because I was told that was the only way to get a letter that says I didn’t do it.”
Linda Garavalia, a victim and associate professor of psychology at UMKC, was surprised by the resignations, but stated that giving up tenure is a sign of guilt.
“I thought they would fight it out. If you weren’t guilty, then why not go through with it. If there was no evidence against them, then what would it cost? What would they have to defend against? I would never give up my tenure if I were innocent.”
The other woman, Megan Pinkston-Camp, was not available for comment. She was a graduate student when the suit was filed and now is a clinical psychologist doing post-doctoral work at Brown University.
The university settled the $1.1 million lawsuit in June 2007. The suit, filed a year earlier, claimed that women were groped and fondled and subjected to explicit sexual conversations and that the two male professors had physically threatened people in the lab.
Garavalia and Pinkston-Camp had complained to the their department chairman in 2004 and later to the UMKC affirmative action office, which led to an order for the professors to implement a risk management plan. Later, the professors were granted tenure and given raises — from $76,707 to $101,707 for Poston and from $75,876 to $93,376 for Haddock.
Haddock tried to file two record requests to gain access to the report, but “I wanted the truth to come out. I thought it would exonerate me. But we still haven’t seen it, and now I don’t think we ever will.”
Karen R. Glickstein, lawyers for both accused, received a letter from university lawyers suggesting that resignation would lead to avoidance of internal discipline and the chance to receive the draft of the findings. That draft came in the form of a letter by Grace Hernandez, former affirmative director, currently chief of staff in UMKC.
Both denied sexually harassing a former graduate student and a faculty member, creating a hostile environment in the psychology lab they oversaw. Poston said, “I did not resign because I was guilty of anything. I resigned because I was told that was the only way to get a letter that says I didn’t do it.”
Linda Garavalia, a victim and associate professor of psychology at UMKC, was surprised by the resignations, but stated that giving up tenure is a sign of guilt.
“I thought they would fight it out. If you weren’t guilty, then why not go through with it. If there was no evidence against them, then what would it cost? What would they have to defend against? I would never give up my tenure if I were innocent.”
The other woman, Megan Pinkston-Camp, was not available for comment. She was a graduate student when the suit was filed and now is a clinical psychologist doing post-doctoral work at Brown University.
The university settled the $1.1 million lawsuit in June 2007. The suit, filed a year earlier, claimed that women were groped and fondled and subjected to explicit sexual conversations and that the two male professors had physically threatened people in the lab.
Garavalia and Pinkston-Camp had complained to the their department chairman in 2004 and later to the UMKC affirmative action office, which led to an order for the professors to implement a risk management plan. Later, the professors were granted tenure and given raises — from $76,707 to $101,707 for Poston and from $75,876 to $93,376 for Haddock.
Haddock tried to file two record requests to gain access to the report, but “I wanted the truth to come out. I thought it would exonerate me. But we still haven’t seen it, and now I don’t think we ever will.”
Karen R. Glickstein, lawyers for both accused, received a letter from university lawyers suggesting that resignation would lead to avoidance of internal discipline and the chance to receive the draft of the findings. That draft came in the form of a letter by Grace Hernandez, former affirmative director, currently chief of staff in UMKC.
Friday, August 1, 2008
NJ dentist sued by employee for unwanted sexual advances
A Branchburg, NJ dentist is facing a sexual harassment lawsuit from a former employee, claiming that the unwanted sexual attention and advances, which included kisses on the neck and breast groping, created a hostile workplace environment. Jacqueline Constantino, a receptionist, billing clerk, and radiologist who worked 20 hours a week for dentist Dr. Victoria Inglis, filed suit against her former employer in the Civil Division of Superior Court in Somerville, NJ.
Before January 2007, Constantino was a dedicated worker who Inglis occasionally invited to social events like shopping trips, lunches, and a dental conference. All of this changed starting January 3, when after a holiday party for the practice, Inglis followed Constantino into the woman’s room hugged her, kissed her neck, and told Constantino she loved her.
Later that month, on Jan. 23, 2007, Constantino arrived at work to find the office was closed and all the patient appointments canceled because a surprise party was being planned for Constantino's birthday.
Inglis then took Constantino shopping, out to lunch and to a spa. After leaving the spa, Inglis said she had a surprise for Constantino, blindfolded her, put her in a car, drove her to another location then escorted Constantino, still blindfolded, into a room, the suit alleges.
When the blindfold was removed, Constantino found herself in a darkened room at the Lambertville House that had lit candles. There was also soft music and chilled champagne.
Inglis then read to Constantino from M. Scott Peck's book, "The Road Less Travelled: A New Psychology of Love, Traditional Values and Spiritual Growth." Inglis then began to kiss Constantino's neck and touched her breast, the suit charges. Constantino once again resisted the advances, the suit alleges.
The lawsuit said that the harassment caused her “extreme emotional distress,” leading to her resignation “at a significant loss of income.”
Before January 2007, Constantino was a dedicated worker who Inglis occasionally invited to social events like shopping trips, lunches, and a dental conference. All of this changed starting January 3, when after a holiday party for the practice, Inglis followed Constantino into the woman’s room hugged her, kissed her neck, and told Constantino she loved her.
Later that month, on Jan. 23, 2007, Constantino arrived at work to find the office was closed and all the patient appointments canceled because a surprise party was being planned for Constantino's birthday.
Inglis then took Constantino shopping, out to lunch and to a spa. After leaving the spa, Inglis said she had a surprise for Constantino, blindfolded her, put her in a car, drove her to another location then escorted Constantino, still blindfolded, into a room, the suit alleges.
When the blindfold was removed, Constantino found herself in a darkened room at the Lambertville House that had lit candles. There was also soft music and chilled champagne.
Inglis then read to Constantino from M. Scott Peck's book, "The Road Less Travelled: A New Psychology of Love, Traditional Values and Spiritual Growth." Inglis then began to kiss Constantino's neck and touched her breast, the suit charges. Constantino once again resisted the advances, the suit alleges.
The lawsuit said that the harassment caused her “extreme emotional distress,” leading to her resignation “at a significant loss of income.”
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Another NJ teacher sex scandal - this time fem on fem!
(Originally Posted 10-12-07)
Yet another case of New Jersey teacher-student sexual misconduct. Victoria Blevins, of Robbinsville, was arrested at her home Wednesday, 10 days after a mother found messages on her teenage daughter's computer suggesting a sexual relationship between the two. Monroe Township High School, in Monroe, NJ, was where Blevins graduated in 2002, then worked as a gym teacher, and also where the student, who was not a student of Blevins, attended. Blevins was listed as an assistant girls' basketball coach on the school website.
A subsequent investigation turned up evidence of extensive contact, some of it sexual in nature, between the two, and the student eventually told investigators that the sexual activity between herself and Blevins lasted from April & June.
Blevins was charged with sexual assault and official misconduct. Sometimes, only the official misconduct count in a teacher-student sex case in New Jersey is charged. This occurs if the alleged victim is 16 or over, NJ's age of consent. Sex offender registration is not required for a guilty verdict or plea when this occurs. Blevins is being held at the Middlesex County Adult Correction Center in North Brunswick on $100,000 bail.
Note to Blevins - Why risk your career by going with a student who is less than 7 years younger than you if you can have women your age, or legally date 16 & 17 year old girls outside of your school? You are 23, and official misconduct convictions in NJ means loss of your teaching license forever, not just for 2 or 3 years. You can always travel to NYC or Philly for a relationship with a woman.
NJ gym teacher held in sex case
A subsequent investigation turned up evidence of extensive contact, some of it sexual in nature, between the two, and the student eventually told investigators that the sexual activity between herself and Blevins lasted from April & June.
Blevins was charged with sexual assault and official misconduct. Sometimes, only the official misconduct count in a teacher-student sex case in New Jersey is charged. This occurs if the alleged victim is 16 or over, NJ's age of consent. Sex offender registration is not required for a guilty verdict or plea when this occurs. Blevins is being held at the Middlesex County Adult Correction Center in North Brunswick on $100,000 bail.
Note to Blevins - Why risk your career by going with a student who is less than 7 years younger than you if you can have women your age, or legally date 16 & 17 year old girls outside of your school? You are 23, and official misconduct convictions in NJ means loss of your teaching license forever, not just for 2 or 3 years. You can always travel to NYC or Philly for a relationship with a woman.
NJ gym teacher held in sex case
(Updated 6-2-08) (Pled Guilty to Lesser Charge 4-18-08)I missed this BIG time. Blevins, according to this website, pleaded guilty to harassment April 18 after the victim recanted. She still contacts the "victim", who is still a student, and according to her lawyer, pland to go into the military. Her teaching certificate will be given up to the state, and she will be sentenced July 18.
(Updated 7-19-08) Blevins was sentenced to 3 years probation on reduced charges of harassment after non cooperation from the victim forced prosecutors to drop more serious charges of official misconduct and sexual assault. Blevins won't be required to register as a sex offender, though she has permanently forfeited her New Jersey teaching certificate.
The student, who was not in any of Blevins' classes, no longer goes to Monroe High.
Blevins, who apologized before Superior Court Judge Frederick DeVesa, plans to go into the military.
Monday, July 14, 2008
Oakland to pay as much as $2 million in groping, sexual harassment case
Angela Woodall The Oakland Tribune, Calif.
--
Jul. 11--The city of Oakland is expected to pay $2 million to settle a federal lawsuit involving an Oakland police officer accused by 16 Asian-American women of pulling them over on bogus traffic stops and then groping or sexually harassing them.
If approved by the City Council, this will be the second such payment Oakland has made to settle claims involving Officer Richard Valerga, who resigned from the Oakland Police Department in 2005.
City Attorney John Russo recommended the city approve the $2 million settlement to avoid a jury trial, according to media reports. He could not be reached for comment.
In 2006, Oakland paid a $190,000 settlement to two women who claimed the city should have done more to stop Valerga from pulling them over and touching them inappropriately. The suit alleged that Valerga targeted the women -- Asian-Americans between 18 and 40 -- because of their race.
In that case, Valerga pleaded no contest to four misdemeanor counts of false imprisonment and violating the women's civil rights after three other charges were dropped as part of a plea bargain. Valerga was sentenced to six months in county jail, placed on three months probation and ordered to undergo counseling.
In this latest case, all of the 16 women were Vietnamese or Chinese and many could not speak English, according to attorney Jim Chanin, who together with lawyer John Burris represented the plaintiffs.
The women, who have not been named in the suit, claim that Valerga targeted them in 2004 or 2005, near the eastern corner of Lake Merritt or the Fruitvale district.
Valerga refused to testify, but according to the testimony, the officer pulled the women over on bogus or minor traffic stops and asked them to sit in the front seat of his patrol car. He then "engaged in grotesque hands-on physical contact," Chanin said.
Neither Valerga's lawyers nor Oakland police could be reached for comment.
--
Jul. 11--The city of Oakland is expected to pay $2 million to settle a federal lawsuit involving an Oakland police officer accused by 16 Asian-American women of pulling them over on bogus traffic stops and then groping or sexually harassing them.
If approved by the City Council, this will be the second such payment Oakland has made to settle claims involving Officer Richard Valerga, who resigned from the Oakland Police Department in 2005.
City Attorney John Russo recommended the city approve the $2 million settlement to avoid a jury trial, according to media reports. He could not be reached for comment.
In 2006, Oakland paid a $190,000 settlement to two women who claimed the city should have done more to stop Valerga from pulling them over and touching them inappropriately. The suit alleged that Valerga targeted the women -- Asian-Americans between 18 and 40 -- because of their race.
In that case, Valerga pleaded no contest to four misdemeanor counts of false imprisonment and violating the women's civil rights after three other charges were dropped as part of a plea bargain. Valerga was sentenced to six months in county jail, placed on three months probation and ordered to undergo counseling.
In this latest case, all of the 16 women were Vietnamese or Chinese and many could not speak English, according to attorney Jim Chanin, who together with lawyer John Burris represented the plaintiffs.
The women, who have not been named in the suit, claim that Valerga targeted them in 2004 or 2005, near the eastern corner of Lake Merritt or the Fruitvale district.
Valerga refused to testify, but according to the testimony, the officer pulled the women over on bogus or minor traffic stops and asked them to sit in the front seat of his patrol car. He then "engaged in grotesque hands-on physical contact," Chanin said.
Neither Valerga's lawyers nor Oakland police could be reached for comment.
Saturday, May 24, 2008
NYC lawyer charged with groping employees
A prominent NYC lawyer was charged with 3rd degree sex abuse, forcible touching, and harassment after allegedly groping two female lawyers over the past year.
Last June, Dienst touched the breasts of a woman and tried to get her to touch his crotch, and on March 22, he allegedly lifted the shirt of another female lawyer and put his mouth on her exposed breast.
The seamy details were outlined in a criminal complaint, which described how Dienst preyed on his female colleagues at the Queller, Fisher, Dienst, Serrins, Washor & Kool law firm.
"I just want to see how great your t--s look," Dienst said when he grabbed one of the womens' breasts on March 21, the complaint charged. "I just want to feel how great your tits feel."
Dienst lifted up the woman's shirt and tried to "place his mouth on informant's breast, without permission or authority" and after she "asked the defendant to stop," the complaint said.
Unwilling to take no for an answer, Dienst "then placed his hand down the back of the informant's pants, placed informant's hand on his penis," according to the complaint.
Earlier, on June 22, 2007, Dienst "grabbed and stroked"" another female lawyer's breasts and lower back without permission.
Dienst, a founding partner of the Quelller, Fisher, Dienst, Serrins Washer & Kool law firm, has represented the Detectives Endowment Association as well as the unions representing sergeants and lieutenants, as well as top brass from captains to deputy chiefs.
Judge Dena Douglas filed orders of protection on behalf of both victims and adjuorned the case until August 5. His son is this prominent news reporter.
Last June, Dienst touched the breasts of a woman and tried to get her to touch his crotch, and on March 22, he allegedly lifted the shirt of another female lawyer and put his mouth on her exposed breast.
The seamy details were outlined in a criminal complaint, which described how Dienst preyed on his female colleagues at the Queller, Fisher, Dienst, Serrins, Washor & Kool law firm.
"I just want to see how great your t--s look," Dienst said when he grabbed one of the womens' breasts on March 21, the complaint charged. "I just want to feel how great your tits feel."
Dienst lifted up the woman's shirt and tried to "place his mouth on informant's breast, without permission or authority" and after she "asked the defendant to stop," the complaint said.
Unwilling to take no for an answer, Dienst "then placed his hand down the back of the informant's pants, placed informant's hand on his penis," according to the complaint.
Earlier, on June 22, 2007, Dienst "grabbed and stroked"" another female lawyer's breasts and lower back without permission.
Dienst, a founding partner of the Quelller, Fisher, Dienst, Serrins Washer & Kool law firm, has represented the Detectives Endowment Association as well as the unions representing sergeants and lieutenants, as well as top brass from captains to deputy chiefs.
Judge Dena Douglas filed orders of protection on behalf of both victims and adjuorned the case until August 5. His son is this prominent news reporter.
Friday, May 23, 2008
Sperm bank CEO faces sexual harassment lawsuit
Growing Generations, a high priced sperm bank which caters to the LGBT community, is facing allegations about inappropriate conduct by its CEO. CEO Stuart Miller is accused by former marketing director Scott Glasgow of firing Glasgow after he refused his boss’ sexual advances and requiring Glasgow to share a bed with Miller during company trips.
The lawsuit also claims that Miller sent Glasgow pictures of himself shirtless, wearing bondage attire and holding a whip, and forced Glasgow to perform in drag on a company trip.
Through his attorneys, Glasgow declined to elaborate. "We stand by the allegations contained in the complaint and we look forward to proving them at trial," said one of Glasgow's attorneys, Brent Pelton.
Growing Generations' lawyer did not immediately a message left at Miller's office, and a company consultant called the lawsuit ridiculous and declined further contact.
The LA based company, which charges as much as $100,000 for surrogacy services, began surrogacy services for men in 1994.
Glasgow, who made $1,000 a week as Growing Generations' New York-based marketing director, claims he excelled at the company until he refused to attend Landmark Education seminars and turned down Miller's unwanted advances.
"Miller's interest in Glasgow changed from one of a professional nature to one of an inappropriate romantic nature," the lawsuit says.
Miller booked a king sized bed for a company trip to New Orleans for both himself and Glasgow, and that he had stroked Glasgow’s head in bed.
Glasgow also said that employees were required to attend Landmark seminars, an offshoot of the est program that was popular in the 1970s.
He said that he was evaluated by how he was "touching, moving and inspiring" others, according to the Landmark philosophy, and not by his business accomplishments.
The lawsuit also claims that Miller sent Glasgow pictures of himself shirtless, wearing bondage attire and holding a whip, and forced Glasgow to perform in drag on a company trip.
Through his attorneys, Glasgow declined to elaborate. "We stand by the allegations contained in the complaint and we look forward to proving them at trial," said one of Glasgow's attorneys, Brent Pelton.
Growing Generations' lawyer did not immediately a message left at Miller's office, and a company consultant called the lawsuit ridiculous and declined further contact.
The LA based company, which charges as much as $100,000 for surrogacy services, began surrogacy services for men in 1994.
Glasgow, who made $1,000 a week as Growing Generations' New York-based marketing director, claims he excelled at the company until he refused to attend Landmark Education seminars and turned down Miller's unwanted advances.
"Miller's interest in Glasgow changed from one of a professional nature to one of an inappropriate romantic nature," the lawsuit says.
Miller booked a king sized bed for a company trip to New Orleans for both himself and Glasgow, and that he had stroked Glasgow’s head in bed.
Glasgow also said that employees were required to attend Landmark seminars, an offshoot of the est program that was popular in the 1970s.
He said that he was evaluated by how he was "touching, moving and inspiring" others, according to the Landmark philosophy, and not by his business accomplishments.
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