Sexual Harasment or Sexual Obligations?

When I started watching Mad Men, I have to admit that I was truly intrigued by the costumes, the classy sense of style, and the way of thinking. There is something about the show that is both shocking and addicting. 

However, as much as there are beautiful plots and enigmas, there are situations that are hard to watch. Mad Men does a great job at depicting the reality of the typical life of the average working woman of the 60's. Unfortunately, in most cases, she was usually objectified and insulted in the workplace. 

Peggy Olson and Pete Campbell

Women were the goddesses of the household, of the bedroom, and of running the perfect domestic atmosphere. But when it came to the professional aspect, women were continuously belittled and harassed at work. One of the prime examples from the show, was when Peggy Olson first walked into the Advertising Agency. Every man in the office started at her from top to bottom, and she was subjected to verbal harassment by Pete Campbell who plainly asked her wear a shorter skirt next time so he can get a better look at her legs. First Amendment Professor John Davis elaborates on potential reasons for this phenomenon "The line must be drawn, because since we are dealing with a sensitive area of communication, we are thus dealing with an invisible line of injury, and injury is a delicate issue with varying degrees. Since we live in a free society, it’s hard to demand less sensitivity for things that cause emotional injury.When it comes to sexual harassment, women have to ask themselves ‘at what point does conduct become illegal, and what is considered too much?’ A mistake that women often make is not speaking up, and that is a part of the problem."

As the show goes on, viewers can clearly see the common theme when it comes to women in the office. They were perceived as sex preys who can - and should - give it up at any given time to be able to keep their job.   

Professor Davis adds "I think that society has an issue with how to handle interpersonal communication about sex and the workplace. We also have to remember that workplace relationships have been growing because individuals are spending more time in that environment than anywhere else, so it becomes tricky to differentiate between someone who is trying to initiate a romantic relationship verses someone making an inappropriate remark." 

Here are a couple of videos that show the challenges Peggy had to face at the office: 

 

 

To put this into a modern perspective, Communication Professor Rodger Smith notes "From what I have read, it is still a mixed bag of the perception of women in the workplace. Women now are perceived as capable leaders, and doors have been opened for women thanks to opened minded leaders. There are men who have no problem filling a position with a women if she is qualified for the job.  With women in leadership roles, more opportunities for women exist.  Downplayed now are perspectives that women cannot handle leadership positions.  There will always be a set of men who perceive women as objects and nothing more, but I feel those perceptions are fading as we become a more educated society." 

Professor Smith also adds "some of this is academic, as economic considerations have forced families to seriously consider two person incomes. The advent of women taking more responsibilities in the workplace was inevitable, considering day-to-day cost of living expenses for the family. The wife needed to work to help sustain family finances." 

The rate of working women has increased drastically through the years, and with harassment laws being placed and administrated, women now have a relatively safer work environment. For ways to handle a sexual harassment situation at work, Professor Smith points out that "each company needs a plan in place that allows a woman who believes she was sexually harassed to talk to another woman in an advisory capacity or a leadership role within the company. Hopefully having that resource will allow women to talk confidentially to a fellow female. A woman needs to tell the harasser to stop this behavior to her. If the uncomfortable behavior continues, then she should report what she perceives as harassment to a superior."