The Pink Ghetto: Reports Of Biglaw Sexual Assault In The Days Following Donald Trump's Election
This is absolutely horrifying.
President-elect Donald Trump (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty)
Welcome back to The Pink Ghetto, a series where we take a look at some of the most appalling stories from one of the most sexist industries in the world: the legal profession. While we’ve heard of countless instances of discrimination and sexual harassment that have occurred since the results of the election were announced, this one is beyond the pale. Today, we’ll take a look at the ways in which sexual harassment and assault at law firms have been amplified in the days since the election of Donald Trump. This is a real email that we’ve received from a real reader.
When you see things like this happening, say something. Together, we can inspire the change necessary to stop this disturbing behavior from being so prevalent in the law.
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I am a paralegal in an Am Law 200 firm in the south. I am of Hispanic descent. My colleagues and I regularly face unwanted sexual remarks made by associates and sometimes partners, but they’re usually said in hushed tones, either behind our backs, or sometimes as they walk away from our desks. Despite their attempts to remain quiet, we’ve always caught bits and pieces of the foul things they’ve said about us. So-and-so is a piece of ass. You’d like so-and-so as your side piece. You bet so-and-so sucks a mean dick. You want to get so-and-so in your office and fuck her good. So-and-so won’t be able to say no if she wants to keep her job.
Thankfully, these comments were never made directly to our faces. We thought they knew better.
In the days since Trump has been elected, the situation has become almost unbearable. These vile, highly sexual comments that were once whispered are now spoken in full voice. Associates had always allowed their hands to brush against us, if briefly, but never like this. Some of us, myself included, have been touched inappropriately.
Yesterday, an associate took his opportunity as I bent over to retrieve a binder, his hand cupping my rear, his fingers dipping lower in an attempt to touch my most intimate areas. Sensing one of my colleagues approaching, he pulled away, grunting, “Next time, I’ll grab you by the pussy, beaner.”
Are we to be preyed upon like this for the next four years? Have these men forgotten that they’re lawyers? What has our country become?
This story is absolutely horrifying. If you work at a law firm where things like this happen, please report those who are involved to HR, immediately. Do not wait for this situation to escalate any further than it already has. Please take action, NOW.
Do you have a law school or law firm story you’d like to see appear in The Pink Ghetto? Please email me with “The Pink Ghetto” in the subject line (or find me on Twitter: @StaciZaretsky). You will be kept anonymous. Submissions are always welcome.
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Staci Zaretsky is an editor at Above the Law. She’d love to hear from you, so feel free to email her with any tips, questions, or comments. You can follow her on Twitter or connect with her on LinkedIn.
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