• 10
  • October
    2011

Our last post paid homage to an individual who is credited with making sexual harassment something that should not be tolerated. Prior to Anita Hill's accusations against Clarence Thomas, sexual harassment in the workplace was rarely discussed.

This week -- the twentieth anniversary of Hill's allegations and hearing -- there have been conferences throughout the country to empower individuals to fight back against sexual harassment. As one speaker stated, "Sexual harassment was something women didn't even want to speak about...They felt cornered by it. They felt trapped by it. Something had to be done. We had to talk about it."

Even though it has been 20 years since Hill had her hearings before Senate, the battle has not ended for her. Hill has tried to lead a quiet life teaching social policy, law and women's studies. However, Thomas has made it clear that he's not ready to drop the matter.

Last October, Hill received a voicemail from Thomas's wife requesting an apology for Hill's testimony in 1991. In the message, Thomas's wife said, "I just want to reach across the airwaves and the years and ask you to consider something. I would love you to consider an apology sometimes and some full explanation of why you did what you did with my husband."

When the voicemail went public, Hill said she had no intention of apologizing because she had testified truthfully and stood by that testimony. She received numerous emails and phone calls from both opponents and supporters.

Source: The Washington Post, "For Anita Hills, the Clarence Thomas hearings haven't really ended," Krissah Thompson, Oct. 6, 2011