By Xanthe Mallett
As the country watches Scott Morrison grapple with the sex scandals rocking our federal parliament, it is worth wondering what has really changed since former Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s now-famous 2012 “misogyny” speech.
The power of that speech is undeniable, and it resonates loudly today.
Gillard spoke to the imbalance of power between men and women and the under-representation of women in positions of authority. Her speech raised serious concerns about how some politicians saw women’s roles in contemporary Australia.
Fast forward Scott Morrison attempting to address the most recent shocking allegations of lewd behavior by some coalition staff – the allegation being a group of government staffers had shared images and videos of themselves undertaking lewd acts in Parliament House, including in the office of a female federal MP.
These stories raise the question as to why some men participate in sexually denigrating women – both those in authority as well as those in positions of submission in hierarchical organisations. And why is male aggression towards women so often expressed through sex rather than through other means?
As a criminologist, I interpret men’s sexually aggressive behavior – whether it is desecrating a women’s desk by videoing himself masturbating on it, or a sexual assault – as an activity born of a need for power and control.
When some men feel challenged, or want to dominate someone to fulfill an innate internal inadequacy, they can feel the need to do so sexually. Often, the subjects of their rage about feelings of inadequacy are women.
From lewd comments, to being groped, through to sexual assault, the attacks on women in the workplace continue.
Research suggests heterosexual men who are more socially dominant are also more likely to sexually objectify women. When these men are placed in positions of submission to women at work and their dominance is challenged, the levels of sexual objectification of women go up. This supports the assertion that some men increase their dominance by sexually objectifying women, and this objectification can become physical.
This conversation around how we address this has been building for some time.
In 2017, the #MeToo movement went viral, as women started to share their negative sexual experiences via social media. The discussion initially focused on women being sexually harassed by their bosses in the media and entertainment industry, but it soon became obvious the problem was much wider than that. It permeates every industry in every country.
Sexual harassment and assault are more common than many people might believe, or want to believe. A 2018 study surveyed 2,000 people in the US. It found 81% of women and 43% of men had suffered some form of sexual harassment or assault. Further, 38% of the women surveyed said they have suffered from sexual harassment in the workplace.
The picture is mirrored in Australia. A 2018 Australian Human Rights Commission report found 23% of women said they had been sexually harassed at work in the previous 12 months.
In 2021, we are still having the same debate.
One big question is where these bad male behaviors originate from?
Social Learning Theory might help us to understand what is going on in relation to some men’s need for sexual domination of women. It is based in the premise that individuals develop notions of gender and the associated behaviors by watching others and mimicking them. This learning is then reinforced vicariously through the experiences of others.
Combine this learnt behavior with cognitive development theory, which suggests gender-related behavior is an adoption of a gender identity through an intellectual process, and we can see how misogynistic behaviors can be identified, remembered, and mimicked by subsequent generations of males.
This could be termed “cultural misogyny”.
How do we change the dynamic?
The only way to shift the framing around appropriate behaviour in the workplace, and society more generally, is to continue to break down gender stereotypes. Women need to be elevated to positions of power to reduce male domination in all aspects of life. We must challenge the undermining of women’s and girl’s autonomy and value when boys exhibit it, to break the chain of passing on these negative attitudes.
We are only now beginning to the hear the breadth of stories from women speaking out about their own negative experiences.
As a woman in academia – a very hierarchical structure – I have been sexually harassed, and I just accepted it as part of my working world. My experience was with a very senior member of a previous university, and I would never have considered challenging him or reporting it, as I was very well aware of the power he had over me and my career. I even considered changing organizations to avoid the unwanted behaviors.
The brave women who are now speaking up have changed the way I view my own experience. The more we raise our voices, support each other and encourage change in the attitudes around us, the more we will all benefit.
Xanthe Mallett is a Forensic Criminologist at the University of Newcastle.
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Anonymous One says
Having worked with livestock, I have to wish for a scientific (objective, empirical) study of the role, if any, of testosterone in human aggression. But I have learned that the mere suggestion of such a thought is to incure that aggression.
William Moya says
You maybe onto something, I’m not a scientist, but from a sort of psychological take, human behavior, capsulized, boils down to sex, race, and greed, and while men predatory behavior is more prevalent, women are definitely not “immune”.
Laurel says
When I try to think where to start, I become overwhelmed. I have experienced sexual harassment by bosses, two customers and various coworkers. It always ended with me quitting and telling them to go do a sexual procedure on themselves. Touching inappropriately usually ended with “Don’t you EVER do that again!” I did get three apologies, and got one manager fired after I quit. Customers never got away with it, and in one case I had, I did not quit and it was one of the apologies. Another customer was just weird, and got a face full of water. Actually, I stayed at that job too.
The hardest part is unequal pay, better scheduling for males and watching dumb as rock males zip right by me. The boys always have family pictures on their desks, facing outward. The logic was they had families to support, hence the higher paychecks and better positions. I suppose women don’t have families to support. They also make sure they dress like the boss, and bring their lunches to eat with them. Then, they can talk football, etc. A lot of buddy, buddy and sucking up. There was one bartending job I had that was awful. Bartenders, when busy, have a knack for ducking and dodging each other. This one guy managed to *accidentally* hit me in the face, bump me hard and trip me on a regular basis. He liked to show me his paycheck too. Also, I can’t tell you the number of times I was lied about.
I mean this was daily life on the job. So glad I’m retired.
Another complaint of mine is that women did not stick together, especially white women. Maybe today it’s better, I hope. Women compete, so they learn they are totally alone with no support. That was not mentioned in the article. It’s really very difficult.
Another one lost says
Your career sounds like an episode of mad men. I certainly hope that this is no longer the norm.
Skibum says
Laurel, I feel so sad for you and the many other women who have historically not been able to just go to work, do their jobs, and go home at the end of the day without all of the harassment, aggression, and utter nonsense that has been and is still to this day displayed and enjoyed by far too many men in society. It is my belief that a huge amount of the inappropriate behaviors we are witnessing in our workplaces start in the schools as bullying left unchecked or simply waved away as “kids just being kids” without any real consequences. Those behaviors manifest into even more serious behaviors as bullying kids grow up. That is why I continue to talk about the importance of anti-bullying efforts in our schools, when society actually has a chance to impact behaviors and try to instill a level of respect for others before children are left to think the disrespect and harassment of others is in any way acceptable, which it is not. Those who continue to support and worship the disgraced, twice impeached former president after seeing for themselves the horrible behavior from him over the past many years should be ashamed of themselves. He is no role model for anyone, and just encourages despicable behavior by others, especially toward women who he views as sexual objects for his pleasure. Unless we as a society start getting serious and completely ostracizing those like him from being around the rest of us if they cannot behave like decent human beings, I fear that the situation will only get worse for women AND men in the workplace.
Laurel says
Skibum: Don’t feel sorry for me, I fought back a lot! Most women do not, for whatever reason. Maybe they are single mothers. I also tended to get jobs men applied for. It really boils down to society not wanting, and I mean not wanting, to see women as equals. To this day, we still do not have equal rights. If you go back in history, society believed whole babies were formed in men’s sperm and women simply housed the baby. Kind of like now, where the “conservatives” are trying to take us all back to.
Bullying was not a part of the problem when I was growing up, but we had then, and still have now, the “boys will be boys” bullshit. Males were, and are, always favored. Girls always believe they are not pretty enough, not skinny enough and must compete with each other. We do not support each other. Instead of girls taking sexy selfies, or wearing inappropriate attire, men should be the peacocks and the girls picking the best plumage. That’s nature.
I applaud your fight against bullying, it’s at an absurd level today! I agree that Trump is the head bully, and DeSantis is trying the same behavior. Meanwhile, Melania claims “Be best.” What a load of crap. I wish girls would get off critical social media. We need to raise our boys to respect girls, and raise our girls to be happy and confident. Some for the gender spectrum.
Laurel says
Sorry, SAME for the gender spectrum.
Sherry says
Dear Laurel,
I can relate . . . when I first started as an underwriter for Prudential in 1972. Their (female) human resources officer told me during my orientation that I would be making less than a man for the same job “because men have families to support, they are the bread winners”, It was, and maybe still is, #$%^&*( ” Official Company Policy”!
I never had anyone get physical with me. That must have been horrific! I think it’s because I am quite capable to that stare your dear hubby has. However, there were numerous occurrences of being passed over for promotion and raises. . . because, men needed the $$ more, and certainly the management had to keep their “good ole boys club” in tact.
As I moved on to smaller “software development” companies as a systems architect, I had threatened male team members demand that I make coffee. I politely refused. Thank goodness the department manager backed me up on no uncertain terms.
But, I was called a useless “ornament”. Although, I’m a thin conservative dresser, I was required to buy and wear fake glasses, wear no makeup, and put my hair in a bun on days when clients came in for meetings . Those companies did their deals by getting hookers for potential clients, and apparently the clients kept asking for me to play that role.
Still, I was making much less than my male counterparts.
What is it that keeps women from banding together and standing up for themselves? What is it that keeps the entire Democratic Party from doing the same?
Laurel says
Sherry:
Three physical touches: As a cocktail waitress, one guy patted me on the ass as I walked by and got the “Don’t you EVER do that again.” He came back a week later and apologized. One guy grabbed my arm, while I was bartending, and got a face full of water from my soda gun. The third guy was in Engineering. He wanted me to answer the phone for a separate department, which was ridiculous, not a part of my job description and I refused. We actually had a bigger battle going on. He wrote some stuff about me, and while I was headed for the copy machine to copy proof he was lying, he tried to stop me by grabbing my forearms. “Don’t you EVER…..” Anyway, I won that big battle.
Women do not band together because, for one thing, they believe they must compete for crumbs. Another reason, is they are not as involved in sports, and acting as a team, as men are. I’m hoping that is changing.
Women are considered “girls.” Baby boys are called “little man.”
Democrats try to hold themselves to a higher level, while Republicans do whatever they can get away with.
Lorraine Ortega says
This blatant denigration of women continues to stand. It seems that discrimination of women, especially in leadership roles, is turning a blind eye instead of reprimanding those who promote this hateful, mean spirited ideology.
LAW ABIDING CITIZEN says
Bullies raise bullies. Alot has to do the way in which boys are raised by parents, sometimes you get a mother who thinks that the son needs to be a bully like the father in order to be accepted and successful.
Geezer says
Whatever happened to being a gentleman? Don’t these men have mothers, sisters, and daughters?
Shame on these creeps.
jake says
What are you talking about? Women want to be equals, open your own door, stop complaining about what “some man” isn’t doing for you. Jeez, you can’t decide if you want to be “equal”, or put on a pedestal.
Sherry says
@ jake. . . “you” have NO idea what you are talking about. . . as usual! Your chauvinistic comment is incredibly offensive! Your poor wife/girlfriend!
Geezer says
A WOMAN HATER!
You’re the type that runs to get ahead of women at the supermarket line, but wouldn’t dare do that to a man! Maybe you’re classified as “male.” but you are not a man.
Remember that a WOMAN bore you on one regrettable day.
There’s only one orifice on a man to birth you. Is that the case?
A sphincter baby?
What a waste of morning sickness and labor pains.
Sherry says
LOL!!! Right On Geezer! Love It! Welcome Back!
Laurel says
Not even close, Jake.
Atwp says
White men continue march and do what they want to. No consequences. O the white male American way. White men are the worst. Just saying.
Laurel says
Atwp: Let it go!
My white, male husband, was a silver back gorilla in a previous life. A man once took my bar stool when I got up briefly, and my hubby just walked up to him and stared. Never said a word, or made a move and it took a whole two seconds for the guy to jump off the stool, and was gone! Yet, he is the gentlest, kindest most caring person I know. Not a bigoted bone in his body. He still opens doors for me too, to save me from germs! :) Cute!
Stop grouping people according to color and gender.
Atwp says
Laurel, I’m glad you have a good husband. Many women can’t say that. In my book they are the worst.
Laurel says
Atwp: Thank you. My marriage is one thing I did really well!
I just wish you didn’t feel that way. We all have experiences of victim hood. Believe me, Trump is not a happy man. Neither is DeSantis. Misery loves company, so they are spreading it around.
Jimbo99 says
Used to work in a Country bar back in the 1980’s during college in Tallahassee, FL. Anyway, there was one dude that would come in with his wife, he couldn’t have been more than 5’6″ and 130 lbs, but he always came in with black eyes & unhealed cuts on his face. His wife was huge, like pro wrestler sized lump of meat. We all had a good idea what she was doing to the poor guy.
Point being, age gender & race have little to do with domestic abuse & violence. Stats are stats, in the end somebody hit another, the demographics are what they are to describe the criminal. That’s the crime, the fact that another committed domestic abuse & violence, not whether there’s systemic racism as a root cause.
Sherry says
Jimbo99. . . as usual, I couldn’t disagree more! To try and zero down horrific, criminal human behavior to the instance of one human being’s assault on another without an analysis of larger systemic cultural/societal influences is in itself beyond apathetic, it is negligent!
Timothy Patrick Welch says
Testosterone makes you do some incredible things.
Estrogen makes you do some incredible things.
Laurel says
TPW: Like want to be paid equal pay for equal work? That’s hormonal to you?
Sherry says
LOL! Love It Laurel!!!!