Dowling on Harassment

Re “The Sexual Harassment Jackpot,” Commentary, Sept. 7:

Katherine Dowling expresses complete ignorance of an important human rights issue, sexual harassment. “Good manners” have nothing to do with it leand neither does “sexual attraction.” She makes a similar blunder when she intimates that sexual harassment first occurred with the “sexual revolution.”

Sexual harassment is all about power, control and intimidation. Oftentimes it has been used to exert that power and control in the workplace, preventing a co-worker or subordinate from gaining a promotion, or even earning a livelihood.

Through the court system the harassed have regained some of that human dignity and respect. A juror from the recent newsworthy case (Sept. 2) cited by Dowling summed it up best when he was quoted as saying, “We wanted to send a message to Baker & McKenzie that if they continue with this kind of conduct, they can expect the retaliation of the court system.”

Dowling needs to educate herself as to the law and as a physician needs to sensitize herself to what the true issues are that may face her patients. Unfortunately, a “tongue” alone has not protected people in the past from harassment, but luckily laws and their enforcement do.

DEBORAH D. HARRIS

Los Angeles

I take exception to Dowling’s superficial assessment of sexual harassment. Proposing to fight the pervasive and debilitating social plague of sexual harassment with nothing more than “good manners” and “common sense” is like trying to combat cancer with two aspirins and a good night’s rest.

While it may be true that chauvinism is a permanent part of any society, if we, as a nation, hope to effectively combat the devastating effects of sexual harassment, then we must commit ourselves to a more aggressive campaign whereby punishments are both substantively meaningful and enforced. If that means multimillion-dollar jury verdicts against convicted harassers, then so be it!

SUSAN EVANS

Manhattan Beach

One can only assume that Dowling was distracted by a “buff guy” while writing this absurd commentary, which clearly displays a distorted perception of social mores, history, sexual harassment and genetics.

S. KANANI FONG

La Habra Heights

Pretty please with sugar on top--more Dowling commentaries.

LISA KIJEK

Downey