dm968315@ohio.edu
Sexual assault has become one of the most critical issues organizations face. It is incredibly detrimental to a company when an employee harasses or bothers a co-worker, or anyone outside the organization, sexually or inappropriately. In efforts to raise awareness over sexual misconduct, many victims have begun using the #MeToo on social media sites, indicating that they have also been affected in a negative manner. Organizations must now be careful not only with handling sexual assault, but also, ensuring that it does not occur within their walls.
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| A #MeToo women's march in Hollywood, California, in November, 2017. (Huffington Post) |
Identifying Sexual Assault
Recognizing sexual assault is not always simple for companies. In some cases, an employee may be committing a great deal of misconduct or assault without anyone else being aware of the situation. For instance, take Netflix and its original show House of Cards, which starred actor Kevin Spacey. The series is considered by many to be one of the most entertaining television shows on Netflix, with Spacey playing a critical role in the show's success. However, the series is expected to conclude after its sixth season, which premiered this year, in light of a string of various sexual assault allegations facing Spacey. On October 29, 2017, Anthony Rapp, an actor on Star Trek: Discovery, told BuzzFeed that, in 1986, Spacey imposed himself sexually on the boy, who was just 14 years old at the time, in Spacey's apartment in New York. A little over a week afterward, 14 other males also reported sexual misconduct instances they had with Spacey. Shortly after, Spacey made a public statement in which he admitted he was gay, perhaps an attempt to somewhat "rationalize" his actions. As a result, Netflix immediately fired Spacey, saying, "Netflix will not be involved with any further production of House of Cards that includes Kevin Spacey." Although Spacey was a vital piece that helped elevate House of Cards over other shows, Netflix recognized it was too risky to keep the actor as a member of their organization.
Consequences of Sexual Assault
Of course, many consequences arise as a result of sexual assault. Not only will personal image be tarnished due to inappropriate actions, but also, companies will be quite hesitant to employing a culprit of sexual harassment. This seems to be the case when considering the career of actor and comedian Louis C.K. A successful entertainer, C.K. had performed in front of live audiences, as well as on television and in films. Just before the premiere of his comedy-drama film I Love You, Daddy, The Orchard, the entertainment company who had purchased the rights to distribute the film, cancelled its release due to "unexpected circumstances". Those unexpected circumstances were sexual harassment allegations against C.K., from five women who he had previously worked with. In 2002, comedy duo Dana Min Goodman and Julia Wolov were invited back to C.K.'s hotel room following the U.S. Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen, Colorado. When they arrived, C.K. asked if he could take out his penis. Although the two women perceived this as a joke, C.K. proceeded to take off all his clothes and began masturbating. Again, despite the success that C.K. would bring to The Orchard, the company felt it morally correct to instead cancel the premiere, saving them from future problems related to sexual assault.
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