ROSEMARY ABBOTT | National
MODERN DAY MIRACLE!
Three Victoria University law students have have miraculously made it through their summer internship at Randall-McClay without having to report any sexual misconduct during their three month stay.
Ellie Williamson, Genevieve Cook and Ruby Lewis, all 20, were stoked to not have had to put up with a misogynistic team culture, nor be groped at work functions involving alcohol, or put up with any sexually inappropriate behaviour during their summer work experience progamme.
The Whakataki Times reporters caught up with the aspiring lawyers who had just completed the programme.
“It was the polar opposite of what I expected. I thought I’d be pressured into drinking heavily on a Friday after work by an older partner of the firm, who would have an overblown sense of entitlement. I thought I’d be surrounded by predatory men trying to help themselves to whatever they wanted. But nope, there was none of that. Just one occasion where there was a polite offer of a glass of wine, which I didn’t feel pressured to take.” Williamson said with relief.
Genevieve Cook was just as surprised about her own treatment.
“I certainly didn’t feel like I was being hunted by a tiger at the Christmas party, and if I had any concerns about anyone’s behaviour, I felt like I could go to HR without them thinking I was mentally ill. It’s also quite nice to be able to wear a slightly shortish skirt and the firm’s partner’s not taking that as an invitation to make sexual advances on me”.
Ruby Lewis echoed her friends’ recollections.
“First of all, I thought I was going to have to make a Twitter account and start hashtagging #metoo. But I couldn’t believe it when the older male solicitors didn’t exceed their personal boundaries. I felt there wouldn’t be consequences for my career even if I spoke out!”
“I guess it’s just nice to feel that sexualised behaviour towards younger female colleagues isn’t accepted as normal behaviour. Who would have thought?”
More to come.
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