Reporter Ines Sainz
Here are four things the Ines Sainz story teaches us:
1. The “she-asked-for-it” mentality is alive and well. Since the story broke that a female reporter was harassed at a New York Jets practice this weekend, there has been an outrageous amount of reports, comments and opinions related to the reporter’s wardrobe choices. Major news outlets have run stories questioning Ines Sainz’ work attire with accompanying photos of her in swimsuits. Whether or not Sainz’ wardrobe is inappropriate for work is a question for her HR department and her boss. How she was dressed the day of the alleged incident (jeans and a white button down) or once during a photo shoot for Maxim, has no bearing on what happened. Because…
2. Outfits don’t cause harassment. Harassers choose to harass. Questioning a harassment victim’s behavior, dress, past, etc. only deflects responsibility from those who do the harassing. Just like nagging doesn’t kill, tight jeans don’t harass. To suggest the football players’ alleged behavior was the result of an outfit suggests the players lack free will and is insulting to to them and to Sainz.
3. Sainz’ reaction to the incident is typical of many working women’s experiences and responses with workplace harassment. When asked by Meredith Viera on the Today Show if she would have filed a complaint (Sainz did not; The Association for Women in Sports Media did), she said no. What she did say:
“I don’t even pay attention.”
“I try to focus on my job.”
“It’s an embarrassment.”
“Let’s pretend nothing happened.”
“Okay this is not a good environment for a professional making her work.”
Because…
4. If a woman does file a complaint, she needs to be prepared to become the story. Why is it that following the training, we can find all kinds of information on Sainz: what she wears, what magazines she’s posed for, how beautiful she is – but very little on the players alleged to be involved in the incident? Because the reality still exists that when a woman cries foul (or someone cries foul on her behalf) she ‘s the one who goes on trial in the court of public opinion.
[...] ambiguity is evident in the multitude of reactions that the controversy generated. Some people defended Sainz and denounced the Jets’ conduct as inappropriate. On the other end of the spectrum, the [...]
Well said.
Let’s keep in mind that the harassers in question were naked or in much tighter pants than Sainz’ at the time of the incidents, but were not subjected to lewd comments or having debris thrown at them. And let’s remember that it is her job(s!!) and part of her brand as a businesswoman to maintain her appearance and to present herself as attractive anytime she might be on camera.
If her ability to report was unimportant, there are plenty of attractive women who could take her place, yes?
No matter which way you slice it, blaming the victim requires a conglomeration of contradictory assertions, and in the end, destroys itself as an argument. Too bad it’s so broadly accepted that it doesn’t have to be a decent argument.
Thanks for sharing your opinon. Do you think it’s okay for professional players to act like that in their place of buisness? And, what makes a “real” reporter?
I think she went in looking for it and just wants publicity. And she is not a real reporter.