It appears assaulting women is the norm in the USA. I laugh at the "now that I'm caught I deeply regret my actions" apologies. Maybe if women could muster up the guts to report it when it happens the lists of victims would not be a list at all. When women get harassed and don't report it they are s guilty as the person that did it. They have no regard for other women that will be his victims in the future so I have not sympathy for them as they also belong in jail. Remember, "If you see something. say something?"
No they don't belong in jail. Yes, those who have a problem with somebody should speak up at the time, but it simply has not always been that easy.
In the previous generation, rape and aggravated assault was of course illegal, but sexual harassment as it is now defined was considered ugly and creepy but was not considered all that incriminating. Smart professional women talked about it among themselves at the water cooler and over lunch, but other than alerting at least the women they liked to avoid being alone with this guy or that guy, they kept their mouths shut. To be branded a trouble maker or getting blackballed because you embarrassed the boss was far worse than putting up with a few creeps.
I can't think of any women who have gone public with these kinds of long after the fact allegations/accusations who went on to make big names for themselves. I don't know if that part of their history had anything to do with it, but I wonder. And it would be interesting to really research what factor money changing hands may play in this whole new dynamic.
To quote Katherine Parker in the iconic movie "Working GIrl" as she counseled her new secretary: "Never burn bridges. Today's junior prick, tomorrow's senior partner."
I'm sure some of these women coming forward to accuse whatever male celebrity or politician is out there now are on the level. But as one who sometimes endured the tacky and offensive behavior of coworkers over the years, I can't imagine stepping forward and accusing somebody 10, 20, 30 or more years later and expect to be taken seriously. They behaved badly back then because they could. So do we ruin somebody's life many years later just because we can?
But in cases of real sexual harassment, real aggravated assault, real rape, real cases where genuine harm was done, I don't know that the statutes of limitations should ever run out on that.
