Sexual offending
Sexual offenses have been prevailing in today’s generation. Despite tough laws set accused of sexual offenders, accusations of sexual misconduct against powerful and respected men across several industries have increased leading to a national debate about gender inequalities in the workplace (Görts, Et al 2017). Most the people accused of sexual harassments are senior people in workplaces. However, it has been reported of lack of enough support systems for the victims (Vogel 2018). In addition, many of lawmakers have even announced their early retirement or left office recently as a result of sexual harassment claims. This is a clear indication that sexual harassments in workplaces and sexual offenses, in general, has become a big issue to our nation.
This article by Kenneth Vogel is about one of the powerful men in the country, Representative Patrick Meehan, who was accused of sexual harassment. Mr. Meehan has been taking a leading role in fighting against sexual misconduct in Congress but this time the ball has landed on his side. According to Vogel (2018), Mr. Meehan has spent thousands of dollars from taxes to settle a case against him concerning sexual misconduct after his former aide filed a case claiming that he made unwanted romantic overtures to her. Many people think that people who are involved in sexual misconduct are unmarried but according to Vogel, Mr. Meehan was a father, married with 3 children. Sexual offenders are not only youth as well since Meehan was 62 years old.
Mr. Meehan was older than the aide by far but he had expressed interest in her personal life. When he discovered that the aide had fallen in love with another guy outside the office he professed his sexual desire for her both in person and in a handwritten letter. When the aide disagreed with him, he made her life in office to be so hard forcing her to leave the office and finally the job. This an example of sexual harassment in the workplace. The victim was the aide. The main question is, what if the aide had fallen in love with a man in the same office? Both would have faced the consequences. If those who are fighting against sexual harassments are being involved in the same then there is a big problem. Lawmakers will have no choice than to leave their offices. Otherwise, tough laws need to be implemented to punish such offenders.