How to combat Power Abuse

Power abuse is the talk of the town since Hollywood crucified Harvey Weinstein for misusing his position as career gatekeeper. With Bill Cosby sentenced and late-night hosts reacting to the irony with more irony, what will actually change. Well, Hollywood’s response thus far to power related sexism is to hire more women. But will more women in power stop power malfeasance? To answer this let’s take a closer look at power abuse.

So how does someone force others to submit to their will? Forcing submission can be physical or psychological. The most extreme form of physical abuse is sexual violence, like harassment, assault, incest and rape. These clear-cut criminal cases are embedded in law and retribution should be found in a court of law. Unfortunately, victims find themselves unheard or disbelieved. Take the disturbing Jimmy Savile case. He assaulted more than 450 victims over a period of four decades without being prosecuted, despite multiple reports to as many as 28 police forces.

Less straight forward are the many ways to sexually intimidate. Typical examples are joyfully groping genitals at a party, the casual rub of the neck, pinching a behind, smelling someone’s hair or the lingering touch on a thigh, arm or shoulder. These bodily infringements should be directly met with a clear order to stop and firm reprimand to refrain from doing if deemed abusive. Because after…