Fox Might Be Learning, Slowly

Apparently the only person surprised by Bill O’Reilly’s ouster at Fox News is Bill O’Reilly. In a statement he made today he praised Fox News but said it was “tremendously disheartening that we part ways due to completely unfounded claims.” Therein lies the problem with sexual harassment. The person doing the harassing usually has no idea what they are doing is wrong.
Most men don’t demand that women sleep with them or stand to lose their job, although that happens too. It is the more subtle things they do that make women feel uncomfortable, but now women are fighting back. It is coming as quite a shock to these big dogs at Fox, where men will be men and women will do as men want them too that not all women, even those who might be right wing in their political leanings will allow themselves to be belittled, intimidated or sexualized.
Trump may have won the election despite his grossly illustrated sexualization of women, but the women’s march has given women a voice to speak out and advertisers are listening. Face it, Fox did not care so much that Bill O’Reilly had high ratings as they did that more than 50 advertisers left his show.
It is a different environment in the work place today and the 67 year old O’Reilly, like the very old Roger Ailes, did not learn that women are not their pets. You can’t call someone “honey”, or comment on their clothing, or their ass, or what they might do for you that would be helpful. Mr. O’Reilly probably has not idea if the claims that brought him down were unfounded. He is not a woman and has no experience being objectified. He just isn’t good looking enough for a more powerful woman to have said to him, “If you want to get ahead in this business I need you to…”. You fill in the blank with something untawdry.
I just want to say a good for Fox for not bringing him back. I am still not going to watch your news, but I am glad you are learning that women matter.