The Hollywood sexual harassment scandal has not shown any signs of wrapping up and many men have been wondering what they can do in their workplaces. Luckily, actress Tracee Ellis Ross has decided to educate some men on how to conduct themselves.
The schooling is needed as there has been some confusion among men about what is appropriate.
“Have we gotten to the point now where men can’t say, ‘That’s a nice dress’ or ‘Did you do something with your hair?’” Steve Wyard, a Los Angeles-based sales associate, told the Associated Press. “The potential problem is you can’t even feel safe saying, ‘Good morning’ anymore.”
John Frith, a consultant, said he once asked an intern to get him some coffee.
“She glared at me like I was just the worst person in the world,” he said. “I would like to apologize to her now, but after these many, many years I can’t remember her name.”
While filling in on “Jimmy Kimmel Live” Tuesday, Dec. 7, the “black-ish” actress began her sexual assault sketch by explaining that what’s happening in Tinseltown, isn’t actually a scandal.
“It isn’t a sex scandal, it isn’t a Hollywood scandal, it isn’t even a scandal,” she says. “It is a systemic problem about the abuse of power that takes place across all industries and has enabled a culture of inequity to persist for far too long.”
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Ross explained that she wasn’t surprised by the many women who have come forward to tell their stories, but noted many men seem to be raising eyebrows. As such, she said she wrote a “children’s book for men” titled, “The Handsy Man,” to break down the issue.
“I do not like you Handsy Man, you’re not allowed to touch my can,” Ross read. “Not on a plane, not on a train, not on your boat, not in a moat. Not in a tree, not by the sea, not in your mansion. Help me, Chris Hansen!”
While the skit got a lot of laughs, Ross’ faux book highlights a trend that has been an ongoing issue. In 2014, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission reported almost 30 percent of charges filed with the office stemmed from sex discrimination. The EEOC said most of these charges, of which many had been filed by women, included allegations of discriminatory firing, harassment and sexual harassment.
