Kamala Harris Is EMPOWERing Women To Speak Up Against Workplace Sexual Harassment
Sexual harassment in the workplace is not anything new.
It didn't come about as a new trend, sticking around longer than intended.
It didn't arise suddenly, without warning or explanation.
It didn't appear overnight with a hashtag.
Instead, sexual harassment in the workplace has always been there, simmering inaudibly beneath the surface for years, decades, centuries.
Why?
Well, because until the #MeToo movement, there was a truth that was understood amongst all industries and women wronged. The truth was: women were liable for what someone else took from them; and harassment persisted because perpetrators and employers never faced any consequences.
Until now.
Now, Congresswomen Kamala Harris (D-CA) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) are no longer tolerating idleness towards the fight against workplace sexual harassment. The voices of the #MeToo movement will no longer be silenced as they travel exponentially towards Congress. On Wednesday afternoon (July 18), Congress introduced the EMPOWER Act, which stands for Ending the Monopoly of Power Over Workplace Harassment through Education and Reporting, to end sexual harassment for all women workers.
The EMPOWER Act prohibits non-disparagement and nondisclosure clauses as "a condition of employment, promotion, compensation, benefits or change in employment status" that deal with sexual harassment—putting an end to the clauses that have been used to stop victims from speaking out in the past.
In addition, companies would not be allowed tax deductions for legal fees incurred through sexual harassment cases, and they would be required to disclose the number of settlements for sexual harassment cases and the presence of individuals with repeated settlements in their yearly SEC filings.
The EMPOWER Act would also create a confidential tip-line for harassment reports under the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), and mandates companies to have sexual harassment prevention training programs in place. Ai-jen Poo, Executive Director of National Domestic Workers Alliance and Co-Director of Caring Across Generations stated:
"All women deserve dignity and safety at work, regardless of where they work or the nature of the work they do. Despite the importance of their work supporting families and maintaining homes, domestic workers are especially vulnerable to abuse, in large part because they aren't adequately protected under federal labor laws. I commend Senators Harris and Murkowski for including domestic workers in the EMPOWER Act and advancing new sexual harassment policies. Now survivors will have more accessible ways of reporting harassment, and our voices will no longer be silenced as a condition of keeping our jobs."
The bill is a direct response to hundreds of thousands of sexual harassment complaints that have come to light in the #MeToo era and, especially, to the measures companies have used to keep women from discussing it for years. Human Rights Campaign Government Affairs Director David Stacy said:
"The epidemic of sexual harassment in the workplace is pervasive across all industries and impacts all demographics -- including the LGBTQ community. Far too often, survivors of workplace harassment are forced into silence while perpetrators and employers avoid consequences. Employers should not be allowed to hide behind nondisclosure agreements that pressure survivors to remain silent in exchange for their job."
Nevertheless, despite the bill having bipartisan support, nothing has happened in finalizing the bill. To ensure the bill's continuity, Congresswomen and allies—Rep. Lois Frankel (D-FL), who is sponsoring the bill with Reps. Ted Poe (R-TX), Barbara Comstock (R-VA), Jerry Nadler (D-NY), and Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE)—would need support from House and Senate leaders.
However, House Speaker Paul Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnel have yet to voice their stance on eradicating sexual harassment.
Featured image by Getty Images
Taysha Robinson is a writer and high school English teacher, based in metro-Atlanta. A self described philomath, you can find her reading books and articles of every genre, attending educational conferences, and hiking wherever the terrain will allow.
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
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ItGirl In Motion: Paige Shari Addison Shows Us Why She's The Hostess With The Mostess
Paige Shari Addison is the epitome of an ItGirl, which is why she is one of 100 ladies on xoNecole's inaugural ItGirl 100 list in partnership with Hyundai. Hailing from Atlanta, Georgia, Paige started her journey as a host in high school by hosting parties. Since then, she has made a career in hosting, from parties to big-name events, and she launched Strictly RNB, a platform for new artists and R&B lovers. Paige reflects on her creative path in the limited video series "ItGirl in Motion."
“My first curated event at Criminal Records was incredible. It was all for up-and-coming artists,” she says. “I needed a platform for us as a collective to be able to give ourselves the platform instead of asking for it, instead of looking for it. I was like, I want to make sure I let people get this experience that I would give as a performer but enjoy the experience with them. It was a dream come true.”
The Atlanta native also has her own line of acai bowls called Soulfull Bowls. She started it during the pandemic after events and parties shut down. But it was her love for eating acai bowls and the reactions others had to them that made her want to make it her next business move. Being open to creating new ventures in the midst of uncertainty is a bold move and one of the reasons why Paige has the “it” factor.
“Being an ItGirl means you’re just authentic. There’s an air to us. We have confidence that exudes from the way we speak, the way we put our lip gloss on, the way we walk, the way we talk. I show up as myself everytime I walk into a room. I’m hospitable, I make sure everybody’s good,” she says.
Get to know more about the hostess with the mostess in the video above.
See our ItGirl 100 list in full here. Click through the gallery below for some BTS moments of Paige and our partnership with Hyundai.
Director: Mikkoh @mikkoh
Production company: @polly___studio
Producer/AD: Samuel Cho @choboi90
Producer/Tech: Paul Nguyen @paul__winn
DP: Cristian Bernal @cristianbernal
Editor: @30inthemorning
2nd Cam: Paul Nguyen
1st AC: AJ Paug @ajpaug Gaffer: Dennis Albert @dennisalbert_
Audio Mixer: Victor Chavez @vic_the__
PA: Rick Carreno @ispeakrick
PA: Tiffany Do @tivani.doee
BTS Photo: Prime @theartofprime
Car Detail: @sud_studs @slugglobal
Creative Director @hellobosco
Team Lead @kevgumbo3000
Project Manager @zakk_jullot
Creative Producer @iamkingsheyla
Designers @miacolemxn @noelspiva
@xoNecole
Director, Integrated Marketing @_vang
Campaign Manager @kingchachiii
Talent Lead @kaylawalker
Feature image by Prime/ @theartof prime