A close girlfriend of mine is experiencing sexual harassment at work, and has been for a while. She’s a new lawyer at the firm and he’s a senior partner. My bf says she’s not bloodthirsty enough and if it was him he would record all their conversations and sue his ass. At the same time, I know it’s always easier telling others what to do when you’re not the one that has your job on the line. On the other hand, listening to her talk about him I just want to rip his balls off. Old-middle aged man with wife and kids and singles out my girlfriend to go after at work. God would I like to see him in purgatory and writhe in torture and agony. Meanwhile what should she do, she asks me? I suggest that she documents everything, as I recorded everything when I was considering taking a TRO (temporary restraining order) out on the abusive ex. It was a good mental exercise and I realized a few things I had forgotten already. I transcribed all his hate voicemails and notes the harassing incidents.

I’ve never dealt with harassment in the workplace. Have I…? Oh! I have, but not recently. As I currently work in a mostly women office and haven’t dealt with sexist bosses since my last waitressing gig (damn those underpaid, over-aged, cocky chefs). And actually I did lose that job probably because I had spoken up once on my own behalf. I didn’t even say anything especially disobedient, but since I was not simply nodding and saying yes to everything they didn’t like it.

I feel like it’s the age-old question: should one sacrifice one’s short-term comfort to stand up for one’s long-term principles? Is it worth it? Just saw a great film on this exact issue, Made in Daghenham, based on the true-story of female machinists for Ford in Dagenham, England in the late 60s. Rita O’Grady is fighting for equal pay for the female workers, meanwhile at home her husband is getting mad that they can’t afford to pay their utility bills. Is the fight for equal pay for all female workers worth the temporary loss of income? Is sacrificing your temporary personal luxuries worth gaining equal rights for a whole group? It’s easy for me to say. I’m not the one who has to take the risk. My gf could potentially win the biggest scandal the law firm has faced or lose everything gained in her career from the last three years. What do you think?