How #MeToo is bringing up memories

I just watched the latest Murphy Brown about sexual harassment at work and the #MeToo movement. It resonated. Murphy and Phyllis talked about ‘the way it was back then.’ Now, they may be older than me, but we’re still in the same era when there were more men in the newsroom than women. We wore our ‘IBM - style’ navy business suits with silk “LA Law’ high necked blouses, nylons and high heeled pumps. I suppose that can be considered sexy but I never felt sexy. I was trying to fit into a man’s world and earn respect for my work, not my legs. 

There were things said, many times that I graciously smiled at and tried to quickly move on from. 

One colleague, who was set up to be a mentor of mine, invited me up to his hotel room telling me it’s OK - he and his wife had an ‘open’ marriage. He said if we worked together he could get me in to the bigger market (my dream market) where he worked. He never touched me, though he sat uncomfortably close to me. I said no and left, shaking.

A news director demoted my friend because she refused to go away with him for the weekend. We put a recorder in her big ‘80s - style blazer with huge shoulder pads and got it on tape. He was fired YEARS later. 

I’ve had viewers ask for one of my shoes. They’ve asked for pictures of me - not professional ones. I’ve had some say they just want to be a special friend of mine. Whatever that means. I’ve always said no and moved on.

I’ve had four stalkers - three of whom had to answer to a judge and spend time in jail. Yeah, it was serious and got to a pretty scary place, though I tried to pass it off as part of the biz. But it shouldn’t be part of the biz. I shouldn’t be freaking out that one guy (a co-worker) would muscle through my apartment door and attack me. I shouldn’t be scared to leave my university office afraid this man at my door is trying to push his way in to lock us into my office after my night class ended and the halls were empty. I shouldn’t have to be scared walking the halls of my own TV station that some deranged stranger was able to pass through the front desk and wonder around looking for ‘his love.’ 

Thankfully that’s all in the past but I will admit, these situations are never far from my mind. I keep them close, like armor. God help the next dummie who decides to cross the line. After all of these experiences, I honestly envision me going all “Bravehart” on the next guy.