I am currently taking a class called “Women in Law” and I feel the need to write about it because it is opening my eyes to so many issues that society continually chooses to sweep under the rug. I chose to take this class on a whim – it was my last choice; however, I am learning more from it than I ever thought I could.

I recently ended up reading the book Sex at Work for this class. As I worked my way through the book I soon came to find that some very problematic issues were touched on that opened my eyes to the extreme sexual controversy that is found within the workforce. There are so many aspects of work environments that are overlooked and create turmoil between employers and/or employees as a result. On the surface, it may seem like the proletariat community is well managed and controlled, but it has become clear to me that is often the workforce’s weakest link.

While gender discrimination has always been problematic, only within the past few decades has it really been addressed and combatted within society. As a child I was taught about discrimination on a strictly racial basis – all other types were completely over looked and swept under the rug. Of course today as an individual, I am well aware that there are other types present – but it was not until this book that I took the time to delve into what the different aspects of discrimination consist of. More shortcomings within the workforce are found in the areas of privacy regulations and how employers go about monitoring their employees. These areas have proven to be problematic because of the gray area that surrounds the loose guidelines pertaining to employers’ monitoring habits, and the lack of legislation specifying privacy rights of employees. Employers are responsible for the work environment they create for their employers. Examples of how this can be controlled include the provisions set place for an employee dress code, and the information employers choose to obtain before hiring an individual.

Having been a staff member of multiple different establishments over the years I am well aware of the importance of conducting a proper interview and evaluation before hiring someone. This helps the employer ensure that the company will be protected – but it is imperative that the safety of employees is not overlooked. Regulations regarding employees’ privacy are lacking and it’s time more legislation is passed in order to preserve the safety of employees, as well as the safety of their employers. Most of society has general knowledge regarding the mistreatment that is prevalent within the workforce, but I believe many people lack a proper understanding of why certain issues arise and how they can be prevented. It can often be hard to know where the line should be drawn. When is it acceptable for employers to step in and create stricter regulations in order to secure the work environment they over see? How is an employee supposed to decide when a coworker’s behavior has gone too far and has in turn become a case of sexual harassment? The vague regulations of workplaces create a miscommunication between employers/employees and make it easy for compromising circumstances to arise. It is imperative that stricter guidelines be put in place, but also that we work together as a nation in order to educate society on what can lead to these problematic situations. While I did not personally relate to any of the workplace issues covered in the book, reading about them was very eye opening and made these pressing matters feel even more real. As a woman on the brink of entering the workforce, it was a hard realization for me that the victims of the workforce have such difficulty being heard. This book serves as a crucial reminder to all of us that progress still desperately needs to be made on the front of American work environments.