Some months back, I came face-to-face with one of
the astronomy community’s most notorious sexual harassers. There I was, minding
my own business, making my way through the coffee line, when BOOM! He turned
around, and there was no escape. I’ve known about him for years, listened with
sympathy to the stories from his victims, trying to figure out how to help. I
understood the damage he had done to the vulnerable young astronomers who found
themselves in his sights. I’ve talked to CSWA, AAS council members, and his
university/laboratory/institution colleagues about what to do and how to stop him.
I always come away empty – he’s too powerful, too popular, and too successful.
People had told me that he was charming, and he started working it as I got my coffee. I could feel the waves of it rushing over me – and it made me angry. This is what his victims faced, I realized. How are we ever going to stop him?
People had told me that he was charming, and he started working it as I got my coffee. I could feel the waves of it rushing over me – and it made me angry. This is what his victims faced, I realized. How are we ever going to stop him?
I refused to smile, my jaw set and my body rigid. I was strong in the face of the charm offensive, but he wouldn’t just leave it be and walk away. Instead, he doubled down.
