Blog #25

English states that “Many people view sexualized behavior aimed toward workplace success pragmatically, a ‘weapon in the arsenal’ that a women can deploy to gain an edge.” This is a way sexuality may be used to the advantage of an individual in the work place. Many people believe that those who use sexuality as a career advancer will “slide down a slippery slope”. This de-legitimizes a woman by reawakening the stereotype that a woman’s mere presence is “overwhelmingly sexual rather than professional”
One area where sexual behavior has broadened for women is in the workplace. This has to do with several factors. Individuals are working with others in the same field of interest. They are also typically in the same socio-economic class. Workers are also spending the majority of their time with each other. Today, English explains that many studies show that romantic relationships at work are not unusual.
One pro to these situations is the fact that widespread affairs and romance have resulted in more equity between the sexes and a softening of stereotypes, such as the double standard that historically permitted male sexual escapades but shunned sexually active women. “Personality and liability can triumph over those traditional gender roles.” Not only are women less tainted by romantic exploits, but increasingly females approach males for romance.
English still persists with the cons that “the door isn’t swinging wide open for women’s sexuality. The double standard is still around; males can view female come-ons as distasteful or laughable, and women still have less maneuverability than men.” And that although sexual harassment has been unequivocally established as a credible cause of action and, at the same time, women have acquired more freedom to assert sexualized behavior, other problems have sprung up. For example 18% of the harassment of attorneys is from clients.