"A horrifying and chilling example of political correctness."

Last month, Richard Ned Lebow, a professor of political theory at King's College, found himself in a crowded elevator with Simona Sharoni, a professor of gender studies at Merrimack College, during an academic conference in San Francisco. Sharoni asked Lebow what floor he needed. He replied: "ladies' lingerie."

It was a stupid joke—a "standard gag line," Lebow later explained, according to The Chronicle of Higher Education. But Sharoni didn't think it was funny. And so she filed a complaint with the International Studies Association, whose conference they were both attending.

An ISA committee found that Lebow had indeed violated the group's code of conduct.

Lebow tried to resolve the matter himself, and wrote to Sharoni. He said he had no intention of making her feel uncomfortable, but stopped short of a full apology. According to The Chronicle:

"Like you, I am strongly opposed to the exploitation, coercion, or humiliation of women," Lebow wrote. "As such evils continue, it seems to me to make sense to direct our attention to real offenses, not those that are imagined or marginal. By making a complaint to ISA that I consider frivolous — and I expect, will be judged this way by the ethics committee — you may be directing time and effort away from the real offenses that trouble us both."

But describing Sharoni's complaint as "frivolous" made the committee even angrier. Lebow was subsequently instructed to issue an "unequivocal apology." He has refused to do so, and could face disciplinary charges. In his mind, the episode is "a horrifying and chilling example of political correctness" that "encourages others to censor their remarks for fear of retribution."

Sharoni, for her part, said that she cannot "remain silent when misogyny is at play."

The Washington Post's Ruth Marcus offered this opinion, which seems right to me:

This episode reflects not only a generational and cultural divide but also the unfortunate intersection of two prickly personalities with the bad luck to be stuck in the same elevator. She shouldn't have leaped to file a grievance; he shouldn't have added fuel by labeling her charge "frivolous."

Nonetheless, count me with Lebow. The days of women feeling compelled to stay silent in the face of sexist remarks or conduct are thankfully on the way out. Hear something, say something, by all means.

But for goodness' sake, let's maintain some sense of proportion and civility as we figure out how to pick our way through the minefield of modern gender relations. Not every comment that offends was intended that way, and intent matters. Maybe check in with the speaker before going nuclear? Maybe consider that there is a spectrum of offensiveness? That not every stray statement by a 76-year-old man warrants a resort to disciplinary procedures?

A misguided elevator joke certainly seems like something two adults could have handled on their own—without formal investigation, and the threat of sanction.

Link

What is a woman doing riding an elevator alone?
She should be using the stairs.

Where is her husband?

Well he seems like a nice guy and she seems like, well, a gender studies professor.

I was thinking who the fuck would take the time to complain about something so meaningless and trivial then I read it was an aging SJW of "gender studies" then >

Some of these women should speak with those who have been truly harassed or raped. Then they may realize how trivial their little feeling really are.

quote:

Originally posted by sigmonkey:
What is a woman doing riding an elevator alone?
She should be using the stairs.

Where is her husband?

And she shouldn't speak to any man other than her husband, father or brothers.

quote:

Originally posted by TexasScrub:
Well he seems like a nice guy and she seems like, well, a gender studies professor.

Yeah, when I saw that my first thought was "Oookaaay, I know where this is going..." Such a trivial thing to be offended by, but in today's USA he probably should have known better. Then again, he's an academic too so he lives in a different world.

quote:

Originally posted by Ryanp225:
Some of these women should speak with those who have been truly harassed or raped. Then they may realize how trivial their little feeling really are.

No they wouldn't. These nitwits are so hateful and self-centered that nothing will ever change their attitude/behavior. And a "gender studies" professor insures she 1) thinks very highly of herself and opinions, and 2) is utterly and completely worthless to the 'real' world.

Bitch needs to make me a sammich, do the laundry, clean the house and learn her place in the pecking order (which is right beneath the family dog).

She's got him by the balls ... and I bet a week's lunch money she's made that comment to her lady friends.

All the dumb fuck had to say when questioned was: "I wanted to buy something nice for my wife"... end of story.

Don

Let these libs suffer from the crap they created. I have no symphony for these morons! You got what you wanted, created and live by everyday. HAHA

i got one.
guy walks into an elevator with a professor of gender studies....

quote:

Originally posted by bigdeal:

quote:

Originally posted by Ryanp225:
Some of these women should speak with those who have been truly harassed or raped. Then they may realize how trivial their little feeling really are.

No they wouldn't. These nitwits are so hateful and self-centered that nothing will ever change their attitude/behavior. And a "gender studies" professor insures she 1) thinks very highly of herself and opinions, and 2) is utterly and completely worthless to the 'real' world....

I mentioned the quip in an earlier thread, when does a gambler play a crooked wheel, when it's the only game in town. So much of today's "social justice" mantra fits. Many of such proponents push their dysfunctional and useless agenda because they lack skills and motivation to do something worthwhile that would contribute.

What exactly does a “gender studies” curriculum consist of? Is it more complex than a “door knobs studies” curriculum? One would think not. Lighten up bitch.

Good thing he didn't call her M-M-M-My Sharoni.

quote:

Originally posted by Gustofer:
Good thing he didn't call her M-M-M-My Sharoni.

OK, that's funny.

I can only assume he knew she was "Gender Studies" professor. He should have pressed the floor button himself then turned and faced the corner until the doors opened.

quote:

Originally posted by arfmel:

quote:

Originally posted by sigmonkey:
What is a woman doing riding an elevator alone?
She should be using the stairs.

Where is her husband?

And she shouldn't speak to any man other than her husband, father or brothers.

And why was the harlot uncovered?

The committee chairman should have driven her out of the conference with a stick after the nature of her complaint became clear.

good grief.