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Happily what I have to say does not apply to where I currently work (at least in our department), I would readily concur with Anonymous on 10 July 2018 13:13.

Fortunately I learned how to handle myself many years ago as a trainee solicitor subjected to harassment from my partner boss in a West End London firm. In those days it was a bit par for the course but as I didn't like it, I learned quickly how to discourage it. I have little doubt that my career was affected as I was not prepared to play the game, but I have always been in a job nonetheless and a partner for most of my working career. I had no ambition to be senior or managing partner (or equivalent) so do not know how "flexible" I would have needed to be to gain that position.

What I do know after all these years however is that some men just don't get that what they do is harassment...strange for otherwise pretty intelligent guys. They would prefer not to acknowledge that their behaviour is inappropriate. I have never been fussy about comments etc. if they are stand alone and not coupled with attempts to undermine professionally, but I would see colleagues move quickly from the odd insinuation to taking very serious advantage of very young members of staff. These were people who were in relation to those staff members, very powerful. It is an abuse of position, however the target of that attention behaves, and simply should not happen.

To those perpetrators, I would say just keep to pursuing those who can answer back...if you've got the guts to do it. If you persist in going after those over whom you have some other form of control or authority, this tells us all we need to know about your sense of inadequacy in the field of sexual relations.

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