With the rise of the #MeToo movement, sexual harassment victims have been voicing their experiences and feelings throughout various social media platforms. In the United States alone, one in five women and one in 71 men will be raped at some point in their lives.
Google is a company that is known internationally. Not only are they known for their iconic search engine, but also their phones, websites such as YouTube, browsers, and other technological devices as well. Google is named as one of the most valuable brands worldwide.
Google, just like many other large companies, has experienced quite a few sexual harassment cases. Google additionally handled it the same way that these companies do, by throwing money at the problem and sweeping it under the rug in fear of the company’s reputation being ruined.
Vinita Medithi, a former student at PVHS, stated, “I think it’s especially important to take action against sexual harassment in companies it often goes hand-in-hand with power dynamics being abused. Many people, especially women, who are subject to workplace harassment stay silent because the perpetrator is someone who holds power or authority over them.”
Google employees decided to form a walkout against the various sexual harassment cases that have occured within the company’s walls. This spark was created by an article written in the New York Times, which goes further in depth to a particular case that Google was involved in.
This walkout had brought out over 20,000 people over the multiple locations Google has worldwide, some include: New York City, London, Tokyo, and many more. Ava Stigler, a prominent figure in the #NeverAgain movement at PVHS, commented, “While walk-outs cannot directly impact the rule of law or create change firsthand, they bring people together and motivate them to create the change they want to see. ”
Anyone can be affected by sexual harassment. With society growing more accepting and open to listen to other voices, now is the time to be heard. The next generation continues to grow more aware about certain warning signs that occur in sexual harassment situations with each new story that is heard.
