Written by Karrie Kirschenmann
At this time last year, the #MeToo movement dominated the airwaves. It was almost certain that every time a television was turned on there would be a new allegation of sexual harassment against a high-powered businessman or celebrity.
Now, the uproar has waned to a dull roar. However, this has not halted feminist activists from working toward their goal.
In California, dozens of bills have been passed to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace. However, former Governor Jerry Brown vetoed several laws related to sexual harassment while he was still in office.
Among the approximately 700 bills currently on Gavin Newsom’s desk awaiting his signature, several pertain to the #MeToo movement, and many of these were vetoed by Brown previously. Gov. Newsom is likely feeling pressured by constituents to either approve or veto these bills. The two competing camps pushing for Newsom’s support: business owners and large corporate interest groups on one side, with feminists and unions on the other.
Entrepreneurs worry that any new regulations guarding against sexual misconduct will bring about significant costs and time commitments, further piling onto the already-stifling regulations levied upon California businesses. Feminists maintain that sexual harassment in the workplace remains a significant problem and argue that action against sexual harassment should not decrease simply because public awareness has waned.
Attorney Jessica Stender of Equal Rights Advocates explains that they will continue to advocate for a safer workplace, stating feminists are not “going to drop this issue or imply that it was somehow fixed…Some progress [was made] last year but there is a lot of work still to be done.” Stender is backing several bills that are on Gov. Newsom’s desk—two of which were vetoed by Jerry Brown. The two bills Stender is backing are Assembly Bill 9, which allows the victim two additional years to file harassment and discrimination claims, and Assembly Bill 51, which prohibits employers from requiring their staff to handle incidents of sexual misconduct in private arbitration, instead of through the court system.
Nate Ballard, a political consultant who worked for Newsom, stated that he believes Newsom will sign both bills. Gov. Newsom is 30 years younger than Jerry Brown, so Ballard infers that he will align more with the women in the workforce than 81-year-old Jerry Brown would. He also has a hunch that Newsom hopes to differentiate himself from Brown, which is another incentive for him to pass the formerly-vetoed laws. Gavin Newsom’s wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, is also a feminist activist and founded Siebel Newsom’s gender equity foundation.
Newsom has several incentives to sign the bills, but business owners and conservatives in California are hoping that the added regulations do not get out of hand. Sexual harassment must be controlled, however, businesses across the nation ought not to be left to drown in frivolous regulation and red tape.
