Does dressing provocatively at work invite sexual harassment? Yes..accordingly to Elizabeth..and she is way the hell out of line..
As we all know..in 2008..ESPN's Erin Andrews..a young, attractive and fashionable sideline reporter, had her hotel room privacy violated. She was secretly videotaped, nude, through a door peephole..and the video was leaked all over the Web. Her stalker has since been sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison.
Fast forward through some time off, Andrews is back in the game as a finalist on Dancing With The Stars. Enter the public scrutiny.
On Tuesday’s The View, Elisabeth Hasselbeck took issue with one of Andrews’ costumes on the show. Too much cleavage. Maybe. But Hasselbeck took the point way too far.
Pointing at images of Andrews in various costumes on DWTS including a bikini top number and a Britney Spears-esque lace bustier, Hasselbeck said:
"In light of what happened and as a legal [matter]..and as inexcusable as it was for that horrific guy to go in and try to peep on her in her hotel room. "I mean, in some way if I'm him, I'm like, 'Man! I just could've waited 12 weeks and seen this--without the prison time!'"Hold up..Hasselbeck. Known for her right wing politics and left-field comments, Hasselbeck wasn't simple tsk-tsking Andrews on her costume. She was, in fact, making light of stalking, even empathizing with the stalker's behavior and motivation.
Andrews shot back that the comments were:
“a slap in the face to victims of stalking and sexual predators. The thing that I was most upset about is I felt that she was mocking a situation. As a mother and a woman, I’m disappointed she went there.”The tit-for-tat celebrity feud was quelled on the next VIEW show when Hasselbeck tearfully apologized on air, saying her “reckless words pierced someone’s heart like a sword.”
But to get to the root of the thing, Hasselbeck made a despicable move that many women have made in the girl-on-girl war crime: saying that because she looked like a tramp, she deserved to be treated like a tramp. This means of excusing inappropriate behavior with the “she asked for it” excuse is what perpetuates sexual harassment and abuse and even rape of women, from schoolyards to barrooms to the workplace.
Most Corp America offices make a lot of noise about What Not To Wear To Work. While most experts agree that sexy or suggestive or revealing attire is out-of-place and unprofessional, there are also experts who say the opposite. A little bit of sexy, they say, can make a woman feel powerful..and by feeling powerful they can accomplish more in the workplace.
I had a friend recently chastised by her manager for wearing a cardigan printed with a leopard pattern to the office. It was “suggestive,” her female manager said. It was “racy” and “inappropriate.” My friend was taken aback..it was a cardigan!
I was quick to remind her that the terms “appropriate” or even “sexy” are truly in the eye of the beholder. While she should probably avoid said sweater in the future, she most certainly wasn’t asking for trouble. For some damn reason..I can't get her to wear the sweater for me. Sorry..I digress.
Back to Hasselbeck..she is simply a piece of work. I found the tearful apology online..and I'm not buying it. I think she was "smacked on the hand" by her POWERS THAT BE..and was more sorry for herself..than the actual statements. She's an absolutely idiot..who is riding the coat tails of the other ladies..and her former NFL hubby. Lame..
Peace out my HALEYUNNS!
So a woman is an idiot if she says something stupid and is on the right of the political spectrum? What if she had been on the left? Would you still be writing about this issue? Did you defend Sara Palin when her family was being attacked in the media? Or is she not deserving of a defense since she's on the right? Double standard?
ReplyDeleteActually..the right wing thing had nothing to do with the IDIOT comment. Just enlightening the people on Elizabeth's stance. She's affectionately known as a right wing on the show. The IDIOT comment is strictly about the comment on the suggestion that Erin was bringing this on herself. Thats it.
ReplyDeleteHey..I appreciate your comment. Thanks!
Kinda like the case in Italy where a young woman was raped but the court ruled that she bough it upon herself because she wore very tight jeans. I watch DWTS. The host Tom Bergeron always makes a comical remark about the clothing(or lack thereof) but its television. Hasselbeck is an idiot and a hypocrite. Even she shows cleavage from time to time.
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Why is her political affiliation even relevant in the context of this blog? Would you be making comment if Barbara Walters had made the statement? Would you have pointed out that Barbara is on the left and know for her left wing politics? Would it even be an issue in the media? I think not. The point is many of those on the left side of the political spectrum label those on the right, especially conservative women, idiots.
ReplyDeleteAgain..for the record..not everyone knows (or cares) who Hasselbeck is. The right wing thing is just another adjective to describe who she is. IT'S NO SECRET..where is political loyalties are. From what I hear..she makes it known..one way or another..with each show. I can give a rat's ass about EH.
ReplyDeleteAnd if Barbara was the one who made the comments about Erin..I'd be ripping her as well.
ReplyDeleteAnd for my feelings on Sarah Palin..refer to some of my earlier blogs. I think I make myself crystal clear regarding my feelings for SP.
ReplyDeleteIt's no secret how the left feels about conservative women and if you were intellectually honest, you'd admit the truth. How you feel about SP is not the issue. But, I do think everyone has a place in the process and the media engaged in ad hominem attacks against her instead of debating issues and ideas. Where were all of the so called "feminists" when she was being attacked? If a prominent woman on the left had been attacked in the same way, there would have been no shortage of people coming to her defense. Your pejorative reference to her being "right wing" was just another example of the double standard.
ReplyDeleteHere's the REAL TRUTH..I'm a fan of Erin Andrews. Chicks who know their sports is way cool with me. Unfortunately here..it was Elizabeth who called out Erin. If it was Michelle O..Hillary C..I'd be ripping their ass right now, as well. The bottomline..it was an irresponsible comments from Elizabeth's mouth. I simply provided the adjective about her..as a lot of my friends don't have a clue about her. Next time..I will leave the political words out of it..and use other creative adjectives.
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