Sexual Harassment Is a Problem in Publishing

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From Publishers Weekly:

With the Harvey Weinstein scandal putting a national spotlight on sexual harassment and assault, PW asked female professionals in book publishing about their experiences. Had they dealt with harassment, assault, or predatory behavior in the industry? Do they feel such behavior had become more or less common over the course of their careers? Do they think publishing is any better, or worse, than other fields that have been exposed as particularly predatory toward women, such as technology and Hollywood?

We found that in spite of publishing’s high percentage of female workers (it’s estimated at roughly 80%), the industry still has a sexual harassment problem. (A number of the women we contacted said they had never experienced any kind of sexual harassment at work, but many added the caveat that this made them feel “lucky.”) Women at corporate publishers, by and large, did not respond to questions on the subject. Others who have been in the industry for decades spoke of unwanted physical advances and interactions that edged closer to assault. Younger women in the business spoke with a more expansive view of sexual harassment, citing incidents ranging from physical encounters to unwanted comments, leering, and suggestive language.

One former editor at an independent publisher recounted an episode when, during her time as an editorial assistant, her boss sent her an email describing his feelings for her. She said he told her he was in love with her and didn’t know what to do about it. She consulted a lawyer but opted against pursuing any legal action (in large part because the lawyer indicated how difficult a case would be to pursue). “I just wanted it to go away,” she said. “I should have just left the job. I tried—I applied to dozens of [other] jobs.”

. . . .

Another woman, who works in marketing at a major publisher, said she has been “the victim of ongoing harassment and assault” at her current employer. Noting that she “didn’t know how to stop” the behavior, she said her experience highlights the fact that, despite the industry’s gender makeup, publishers are not necessarily female-friendly workplaces. “I was pushed against walls, cornered in hallways, and groped under my clothes at author dinners,” she said. “In an effort to minimize the damage to our professional environment I brushed it off. When a coworker encouraged me to come forward, I felt I would be the one they fired. I’ve worked in Hollywood, and I never experienced the level of assault and harassment that I experienced here.”

Two longtime salespeople at a major publisher, who both spoke on the condition of anonymity, reported being repeatedly harassed by a buyer at one of their accounts. “For years, at every appointment, he would talk about women’s bodies and my body,” one said. “He talked about erectile dysfunction medicines. He asked about my sex life. After every appointment he would give lingering hugs and press himself against my chest.” Little came of her attempts to change the situation. “Since this store was considered a significant account, and because [my supervisor] was friends with this man, nothing came of my complaints.”

Women who have spent much of their careers in publishing said they felt sexual assault and harassment have not significantly lessened over time. The only real change some noted is that more women are recognizing sexual harassment as harassment, and not merely bad behavior by men.

Link to the rest at Publishers Weekly and thanks to Dave for the tip.