Harassment Culture: An Exercise in Making Things Worse
An Exercise in Making Things Worse
Okay, so ... in the first place, it was an abortion debate.
And, yes, it went out live on television. Ralp Riegel explains:
Bad enough, right? I mean, really. What do you say to something so abstract as a drunken legislator harassing one of his colleagues on the floor during a live telecast?
But, oh, how is it that they always manage to make things worse?
No, really. You know you see this part coming.
And there it is. In scandals, this is always the money shot. You know, the part where, after getting drunk and then trying to make one of your female co-workers sit on your lap while on national television ... I mean, is he telling us that he would have done the same to a man, and only grabbed TD Collins because she happened to be near to hand when the impulse struck?
Taoiseach Kenny properly remains focused on the abortion issue, saying she did not see the incident and had no comment, implying with little room for question that she would rather people remain focused on the incredible political drama that has played out in recent months across the Emerald Isle. Meanwhile, the National Women's Council denounced Irish politics as unfriendly toward women, and while Mr. Barry might protest reminders that political chambers are not appropriate for sexist behavior, Fine Gael is not inclined to support that objection.
Perhaps people might have been sympathetic toward a mitigating effect of various circumstances; alcohol, a tremendously long work session after little sleep. But that still doesn't excuse such behavior under the best of circumstances. When one turns around to pretend shock that anyone sees sexism in that kind of physical harassment, well, it just doesn't help.
Even after everything else, and accepting that the issue is, in fact, resolved 'twixt Mr. Barry and Ms. Collins, what I don't get is why people think they can say, "But it's not sexist." Actually, that's wrong. What I don't get is how they think they can get away with it. Oh, wait. That's still wrong. I suppose I'm puzzled by the notion that such a subculture exists where Mr. Barry's (ahem!) "shock" at the notion that his behavior was sexist can be taken seriously.
I mean, it's not like he's in Florida, or something.
But I suppose I'll believe Mr. Barry's shock when I see him pulling Ag Minister Coveney onto his lap. Or maybe not. Some might find Simon Coveney a handsome man.
But, really, does such a notion really have sway in the twenty-first century? Does he get to be "very upset" that his behavior is described as sexist?
____________________
Notes:
Riegel, Ralph. "'Horseplay' TD Tom Barry 'mortified' by his actions". The Irish Independent. July 12, 2013. Independent.ie. July 15, 2013. http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/horseplay-td-tom-barry-mortified-by-his-actions-29414604.html
An Exercise in Making Things Worse
Okay, so ... in the first place, it was an abortion debate.
And, yes, it went out live on television. Ralp Riegel explains:
A Fine Gael TD who pulled a female colleague onto his lap during an early morning Dail debate on abortion said he is “mortified” by his actions.
Tom Barry TD (FG) has also admitted that he had been drinking before the incident – but insisted he wasn't drinking excessively.
“I went to the Dail bar but I wasn't drinking excessively. There was nothing pre-meditated, it was stupid, it was disrespectful,” he said.
Mr Barry said he was “sick to his stomach” that he had embarrassed his friend and colleague, Aine Collins TD (FG), his wife and family as well as his party.
The 44-year-old revealed his wife, Dr Kathy Quane, had taken a dim view of the matter.
“I spoke to my wife this morning and all she said to me was: 'You big eejit.' I feel so embarrassed over this,” he added.
Tom Barry TD (FG) has also admitted that he had been drinking before the incident – but insisted he wasn't drinking excessively.
“I went to the Dail bar but I wasn't drinking excessively. There was nothing pre-meditated, it was stupid, it was disrespectful,” he said.
Mr Barry said he was “sick to his stomach” that he had embarrassed his friend and colleague, Aine Collins TD (FG), his wife and family as well as his party.
The 44-year-old revealed his wife, Dr Kathy Quane, had taken a dim view of the matter.
“I spoke to my wife this morning and all she said to me was: 'You big eejit.' I feel so embarrassed over this,” he added.
Bad enough, right? I mean, really. What do you say to something so abstract as a drunken legislator harassing one of his colleagues on the floor during a live telecast?
But, oh, how is it that they always manage to make things worse?
No, really. You know you see this part coming.
Mr Barry, a married father of three, said he was “shocked” that the incident was being seen as sexist when it had been intended, albeit foolishly, as horseplay.
“It should never have happened. I would be the very first one to say that.
“I feel very upset that it is being described as that (sexist). I didn't intend to offend anyone and I can't offer any excuse other than to put it down to stupidity, naivety and inexperience,” he said.
“Something like this has never happened to me before and I can promise will never happen again.
“I consider Aine Collins a good friend, I have apologised and she has accepted my apology,” he said.
“It should never have happened. I would be the very first one to say that.
“I feel very upset that it is being described as that (sexist). I didn't intend to offend anyone and I can't offer any excuse other than to put it down to stupidity, naivety and inexperience,” he said.
“Something like this has never happened to me before and I can promise will never happen again.
“I consider Aine Collins a good friend, I have apologised and she has accepted my apology,” he said.
And there it is. In scandals, this is always the money shot. You know, the part where, after getting drunk and then trying to make one of your female co-workers sit on your lap while on national television ... I mean, is he telling us that he would have done the same to a man, and only grabbed TD Collins because she happened to be near to hand when the impulse struck?
Taoiseach Kenny properly remains focused on the abortion issue, saying she did not see the incident and had no comment, implying with little room for question that she would rather people remain focused on the incredible political drama that has played out in recent months across the Emerald Isle. Meanwhile, the National Women's Council denounced Irish politics as unfriendly toward women, and while Mr. Barry might protest reminders that political chambers are not appropriate for sexist behavior, Fine Gael is not inclined to support that objection.
Last night, Fine Gael stressed that the party did not view the incident as “horseplay”.
“I wish to make it clear that the instinctive characterisation of the incident as 'horseplay involving two people' does not reflect how Fine Gael views this kind of behaviour having seen the footage,” FG general secretary Tom Curran said.
“One deputy's actions were unwelcome to another deputy. If it happened in any other workplace, it would be unacceptable.
“That it happened on the floor of Leinster House makes it more so.”
“I wish to make it clear that the instinctive characterisation of the incident as 'horseplay involving two people' does not reflect how Fine Gael views this kind of behaviour having seen the footage,” FG general secretary Tom Curran said.
“One deputy's actions were unwelcome to another deputy. If it happened in any other workplace, it would be unacceptable.
“That it happened on the floor of Leinster House makes it more so.”
Perhaps people might have been sympathetic toward a mitigating effect of various circumstances; alcohol, a tremendously long work session after little sleep. But that still doesn't excuse such behavior under the best of circumstances. When one turns around to pretend shock that anyone sees sexism in that kind of physical harassment, well, it just doesn't help.
Even after everything else, and accepting that the issue is, in fact, resolved 'twixt Mr. Barry and Ms. Collins, what I don't get is why people think they can say, "But it's not sexist." Actually, that's wrong. What I don't get is how they think they can get away with it. Oh, wait. That's still wrong. I suppose I'm puzzled by the notion that such a subculture exists where Mr. Barry's (ahem!) "shock" at the notion that his behavior was sexist can be taken seriously.
I mean, it's not like he's in Florida, or something.
But I suppose I'll believe Mr. Barry's shock when I see him pulling Ag Minister Coveney onto his lap. Or maybe not. Some might find Simon Coveney a handsome man.
But, really, does such a notion really have sway in the twenty-first century? Does he get to be "very upset" that his behavior is described as sexist?
____________________
Notes:
Riegel, Ralph. "'Horseplay' TD Tom Barry 'mortified' by his actions". The Irish Independent. July 12, 2013. Independent.ie. July 15, 2013. http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/horseplay-td-tom-barry-mortified-by-his-actions-29414604.html
