Silicon Valley Plagued with Sexual Harassment Allegations
Allegations of sexual harassment in Silicon Valley have made headlines in the news lately. However, a report by Bloomberg Technology asserts that accusations of a sexual harassment problem goes back decades. Speaking about a culture that is now being referred to as the “open secret” of Silicon Valley, numerous women have come forward with stories of abuse at the hands of prominent start-up investors, corporate leaders, and professional mentors.
The latest Silicon Valley assertions started with a group of women coming forward with similar stories about a well-known venture capitalist. After he was pressured to step down, another prominent industry leader left his job when it was revealed that he sent a sexually inappropriate message to a female job candidate. From there, numerous allegations of harassment at a popular rideshare company sparked questions about the culture of the male-dominated technology industry.
To understand how such behavior could have persisted for so long, it is important to consider the structure of Silicon Valley and how it generally works. This small region of California in the southern part of San Francisco is world renowned for its technology-based companies and innovative business start-ups. As these young businesses fight for survival, they essentially compete for support from financial investors, who are mostly wealthy and powerful men. According to reports, many of these investors are placed on pedestals and allowed to act inappropriately with little or no consequences.
Helping sexual harassment victims reclaim their lives
Sexual harassment in the workplace can take on many forms. It does not require physical contact or overt sexual advances, and it may be done verbally or physically. Some examples of sexual harassment in the workplace include:
- Physical assault or groping
- Nonconsensual kissing or touching
- Unwanted advances
- Requiring sexual contact in return for a promotion or raise
- Stalking
- Displaying pornography or offensive images
- Sexually explicit jokes, pranks, or language
- Catcalls or comments about an individual’s appearance or body
Victims of this harassment face serious challenges. The effects of the abuse may prevent them from properly performing their job duties. Some Silicon Valley victims report loss of employment and business opportunities. A few even allege that they have received death threats and now live with constant anxiety.
Like the alleged incidents in Silicon Valley, many sexual harassment incidents go unreported. Victims are afraid to lose their jobs, or they feel helpless to change their circumstances. At Taylor & Ring, our experienced Los Angeles sexual harassment lawyers assist victims through this difficult time. Whether you were harassed by an owner, manager, co-worker or client, we provide you with quality legal representation you can trust. Call us today at 310.776.6390 or complete our contact form.
David Ring is a nationally renowned plaintiff’s personal injury trial attorney and has obtained multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements on behalf of seriously-injured individuals or families who have lost a loved one in a tragic accident. For more than 20 years, he has represented victims of sexual abuse, sexual harassment, assault, molestation and sexual misconduct in cases against a variety of employers and entities, including schools, churches and youth organizations.
He prides himself on providing aggressive, yet compassionate representation for children who have been sexually abused and women who have been sexually harassed or assaulted. Read more about David M. Ring.