CAUTION: Distracting Breasts in the Workplace!

A 43-year old woman named Amy-Erin Blakely is suing her former employer, the Devereux Foundation, a non-profit health organization dedicated to helping children and adults with emotional, developmental, educational, and cognitive disabilities, for firing her in 2009 after she filed two complaints about gender discrimination. Blakely claims she was told her breasts were distracting for others and that she was too “sensual” to be promoted. She reported one complaint in 2003 and another in 2008 when the discriminatory comments worsened.

The issue was discussed as a “Hot Topic” on The View:

As I was viewing, my Feminist senses were tingling…

Now, Sherri’s got the right idea. A woman should never feel compelled to hide any part of her body because it is a distraction to others. If someone is distracted by a pair of breasts, then it’s their own damn problem. Heaven forbid people control their wandering eyes.

But Barbara, oh dear Barbara. She definitely has quite an opinion here; she claims that she does not believe the accusation at all. While there is no sure way of proving the accusations to be true, it is certainly very bold of her to write them off completely. Is it really so hard to believe that a woman would bear the brunt of sexist comments in the workplace? Barbara seemed rather convinced that the Devereaux Foundation could never hire anyone capable of such discrimination. As disappointing as it is, sexist thoughts and comments can come from all different types of people, sometimes even people you may not expect them to come from. Plus, gender discrimination is still very much alive and kickin’ in our society. In 2009 alone, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission reported 28,028 claims of sex-based discrimination.

And wow, the grand finale. Is is possible that I actually agree with Elizabeth for once? It may seem inconceivable, but she’s actually got a good point here. Would we respond the same way to a woman in this position that had received breast augmentation surgery? Should we discriminate against “distracting” women in the workplace who have altered their “sources of distraction”? I don’t think so. If a woman chooses to get breast implants, then it is her choice and she should be able to continue her career as she normally would. Why is it that women always have to be the scapegoat here?

Readers, what do you think?

-Lauranium