House and Senate Are ‘Among the Worst’ for Harassment, Representative Says

Sexual harassment stems from the same social norms that can lead to sexual assault. Valuing or claiming power over others, acceptability of violence, and narrow definitions of manhood and womanhood can create environments where sexual harassment is the norm.  Sexual harassment is never acceptable, especially coming from our leaders. How do we prevent sexual assault when our nation’s leaders are complicit in these norms themselves? It’s time for change.

“The Congress of the United States should be the one work environment where people are treated with respect, where there isn’t a hostile work environment,” said Representative Jackie Speier, Democrat of California, who will testify on Tuesday about her efforts to deal with harassment in the Capitol. “And frankly, it’s just the opposite. It’s probably among the worst.”

In more than 50 interviews, lawyers, lobbyists and former aides told The New York Times that sexual harassment has long been an occupational hazard for those operating in Washington politics, and victims on Capitol Hill are forced to go through far more burdensome avenues to seek redress than their counterparts in the private sector…