What bothers me about Pence's "no meals alone with women who aren't my wife" and "no working late with female aides" rules isn't that he's trying to protect women from himself. He rightly understands that he's a powerful man, and many women have been harmed, sexually or otherwise, by people remarkably like him. Kudos to Mike Pence for getting that, even if he also doesn't get that many men have been harmed in just the same way.
What bothers me is that he (apparently) pays no heed to the question of how to protect women from himself while still ensuring they can have equitable careers. "You go home, honey; Jack will stay and help me" is saying that women and men have different roles to play in Pence's staff, and that's quintessential sexism (and may be illegal). And as the article points out, "no successful woman could ever abide by [Pence's no-meals-alone rule]."
If it's done properly, there are alternatives. Instead of having drinks one-on-one, you invite a mutual friend, or you go for lunch, coffee, or a jog. I don't think these alternatives are natural to most people, but I do think they can be taught. In good organizations, they are.
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I wanted to write this yesterday, but thankfully I didn't, because Jia Tolentino did a much better job than I would have in the New Yorker.
http://www.newyorker.com/culture/jia-tolentino/mike-pences-m...
What bothers me about Pence's "no meals alone with women who aren't my wife" and "no working late with female aides" rules isn't that he's trying to protect women from himself. He rightly understands that he's a powerful man, and many women have been harmed, sexually or otherwise, by people remarkably like him. Kudos to Mike Pence for getting that, even if he also doesn't get that many men have been harmed in just the same way.
What bothers me is that he (apparently) pays no heed to the question of how to protect women from himself while still ensuring they can have equitable careers. "You go home, honey; Jack will stay and help me" is saying that women and men have different roles to play in Pence's staff, and that's quintessential sexism (and may be illegal). And as the article points out, "no successful woman could ever abide by [Pence's no-meals-alone rule]."
Anyway this article frames the issue really well.