The allegations of rape and sexual abuse against Harvey Weinstein have raised questions about how much sexual harassment goes on in Irish workplaces.
What can be done to tackle it?
Employment lawyer Anne O'Connell says that there are often cases "where the employee decides to resign rather than go through the procedures" and that it is up to employers to "make it accessible to them to be able to deal with those complaints."
In cases where employers are the perpetrators of harassment, Anne says the employee needs to make it clear that these advances are unwanted: "If they can prove that they have done that, they can use the external procedures and make a complaint without resigning their position."
Hot Press critic Roe McDermott, who recently completed a Master's in Sexuality Studies at San Francisco State University, explains why women who have been the victims of harassment or abuse are often reluctant to speak out.
"Women who speak out about sexual abuse are not rewarded by society - they're judged incredibly harshly. There's a lot of victim blaming and assumptions that women are lying. There's an almost default disbelief."
"The repercussions of speaking out can be detrimental."
