Most of the issues I blog about are ethical issues involving industries, healthcare or government. I try not to overtly react to smaller news stories of the day. We can go crazy chasing petty stories. However, sexual harassment is like the tip of 
an iceberg; a smaller story can give way to major stories; major unethical stories that have broader ramifications.
Sexual Harassment – Living in an Age of Uncertainty
This is a time of static and uncertainty. The so-called #MeToo movement has tens of thousands of women (and men) stepping up to talk about their experiences with sexual harassment, abuse and objectification. The protests and even legal actions are long overdue. Only the most selfish and clueless among us would state that no problem exists. It is the powerful against the weak and the predators against their prey.
Naturally, some men (and women) feel that this is all very much ado over nothing. The standard line among the #MeToo deniers is, “Well, we’re in a time where anyone can say anything about anyone and get away with it.” It is true to a point, certainly, but there are far too many instances, be it Harvey Weinstein or Kevin Spacey where sexual harassment was covered up for years and women and men suffered. In these highly charged times, one would think the media would be most sensitive to saying or doing things that are inappropriate. This is not the case.
Say what you want about Chloe Kim, the phenomenal Olympic athlete, she is still a 17-year-old kid. She has millions of fans who adore her and parents who dote over her. Physically, she is beautiful but more so, she is kind and decent. By the way her parents adore her and she adores them.
Knowing all of this, Patrick Connor on his SiriusXM show said to his fellow co-hosts: “She’s fine as hell! If she was 18, you wouldn’t be ashamed to say that she’s a little hot piece of a–. And she is. She is adorable. I’m a huge Chloe Kim fan.”
The station suspended Connor for the rest of the week over the Kim comments. After the comments were made, a rival radio station called them out on it, but Connor’s co-host called it “another hit piece.” I might add that another member of the station’s on-air team wrote in regard to a cheerleader that she was “a hot Texas cheerleader.” They were forced to take the story down. In the #MeToo environment comments like this do not pass the sexual harassment test.
Sexual Harassment and Setting The Bar
The media protests in regard to the depiction of women that swept the nation not all that long ago seem to have been based on innuendo, emotion and gossip, but not ethics. People who should know better, who should have understood the climate of sexual abuse and sexual harassment, went right back to their games and ratings fights after the smoke cleared.
While there will be those who believe that the First Amendment trumps ethical behavior and that anything can and should go, the larger issue is one of choices and consequences. Namely, what are the ramifications of two, or 10 or 100 talk show hosts constantly barraging us with over-sexualization and not so subtle “dances” with issues of child pornography and abuse? At what point are messages internalized by audience members?
In an effort to gain laughs and to be inappropriate what are we as a society losing and what are we inviting? If a grown man with a microphone can express hopeful glee at the thought of a 17-year-old teenager “turning legal,” should we be surprised when a Hollywood agent with a “need” and an “opportunity” takes advantage of 19-year-old actress trying to get a role in a television series? I think not.
The thought then comes to mind is if ethical behavior and the media should be functioning as far apart as they currently function? I recognize the fine line of censorship versus freedom of expression. Nevertheless, what could be lost if a talk show host were taught to stay away from topics such as sexualizing a 16-year-old cheerleader? Yes, there are those who specialize in “shock,” but in this climate the most shocked could very well be the hosts themselves.
-YOUR COMMENTS ARE WELCOME!
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Feel free to reach out to Chuck Gallagher about his new program – BE THE DIFFERENCE: Recognizing and Preventing Sexual Harassment in the Workplace.
