#MeToo
Before I get into the primary reason for this post, let me say that I am what you would consider a “guy’s girl.” I’m not easily offended, I have a twisted sense of humor, there are times I have a mouth like a sailor, and I don’t cry often. I grew up with three brothers, and was a bit of a tomboy growing up. I have always been considered a “tough girl”. I think my upbringing helped me in the world of rock radio. When I began in radio, the business was considered a “boys club”. At one of the rock stations I worked for, I was the first female on the air in 10 years.
I give you this background information, so you’ll know that I am not one of those people that feels the need to protest constantly. I’m not what you’d consider a “feminist” nor am I often vocal about serious subjects. That said, I feel like this topic needs to be addressed. We have all read about the Harvey Weinstein sexual assault/sexual harassment allegations. If I’m not mistaken, over 20 women have now accused him of numerous allegations. This is not a Hollywood problem. This is an everyday problem.
The number of times that I’ve encountered sexual assault/harassment while working in radio, is insane. The number is in the double digits. I also encountered it a few times as a teen. Luckily, I have never been raped. Luckily, my Dad taught me how to throw a punch at an early age. Please understand that I’m not condoning violence, but sometimes that’s what it takes to make sure that you can escape a potentially dangerous situation. I realize that I am not alone. Numerous friends have experienced the same types of situations. Some of my friends haven’t been as lucky as me. This happens in every business, not just the entertainment business.
The last time I dealt with a sexual assault situation, I quit my job. It happened in radio, at another station. The offender was someone I admired greatly, and I was stunned when it happened. For the first time in my life, I was very shaken. I blamed myself, and wondered if my personality contributed to what happened. I didn’t like that feeling.
If you have dealt with sexual harassment/sexual assault, please know you are not alone. Alyssa Milano recently began a #MeToo campaign. If you are on social media, you may have seen this. It is astounding, and frightening how many #MeToo posts that I have seen in the last two days. Click here to read more about the #MeToo campaign, and please know that if you need to talk, there are friends that are there for you. There are also numerous local outlets that you can reach out to for help. See a list here
or call 1-800-656-4673 at any time.
