The Commute: November 10, 2017

Nov 10, 2017

The Quote of the Week.

“No matter how senior you get in an organization, no matter how well you’re perceived to be doing, your job is never done.” — Abigail Johnson, President and CEO, Fidelity Investments.

The Top Story.

“I don’t want publicity. I don’t want trouble,” she told me. “I’m sorry I’m so paranoid. This town is so damned small, and no one can keep a secret.”

The Powerful Predators of Capitol Hill.  (The Cut)

As the rest of America calls out sexual harassers, women in D.C. are in a different boat.  Do you talk?  Do you name names?  Do you think your reputation won’t be tainted?

Silence in D.C. is much easier.

12 years ago I was innapropriately touched by a Member.  I was so young.  I was shocked, afraid, confused, and I just froze.  A man I knew intervened, words were exchanged.  He never came near me again.

“Do you want to say something?”  I was asked.  At 22, I knew there was no one to tell.  Nothing would happen.  The only person punished would be me.  He knew it.  I knew it.  Better to protect myself from further harm.

The sick part is staying silent brought me a certain cache; I was one of the club, I could be trusted.

The Member is gone now.  But sometimes, I hear people talk about him, and I want to say something.  But why?  He can’t hurt anyone else, and I’d like to work in this town again.  As someone said a few weeks ago, sexual assault makes coward of us all.

Maybe the Hill will be the next realm to start cleaning up its mess.  But I doubt it.

The Weekly Reads and Links.

1) My friend Theresa was wearing this Free People slouchy tunic yesterday.  I ran right out to buy it.

2) How to cope when everyone in your office is a parent. (WaPost)

3) Sephora VIB sale is this weekend. Code 20FORVIB.  I need more of this hair mask, this Aucoin foundation, and this SK-II (must have) welcome kit.

4) Facebook says that to protect you from revenge porn, you need to send them your nudes first. I’m sorry, what? (LA Times)

5) These tall boots from Amazon are high on my wishlist. So cool.

6) Airport hacks to make your trip a breeze. (Refinery29)

7) Need sweater dresses?  This Madewell tie cuff, this cable Volcom, and this LOFT swing dress are all great.  Plus-size? Try this Brave Soul dress.

8) Is it irresponsible for feminists to tell women the workplace is hell? (Telegraph)

9) This Even Steven foundation is whipped.  That’s deeply intriguing.

10) Why cancelling plans to stay in is so satisfying. (The Cut)

11) These Toms booties are the perfect black, casual ankle boot.

12) A different kind of pregnancy announcement. (Man Repeller)

The Weekly Ws.

What Blew My Mind. Swimming to the edge of a 338ft waterfall.

What You Can’t Make Up.  Allison Mack is now running a sex cult. Remember when she was just a nice girl with a TV show on CW?

What I Am Wearing to Death. These olive Prima pants from AG. The perfect alternative to jeans.

The Photo of the Week.

This dress from Christian Dior AW 17 is just a stunner.  Sometimes, we all just need to look at a pretty dress and think wistfully about having some place to wear it.

Workday Reading

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  1. DTC says:

    So this is semantics, but Allison Mack never had a Nickelodeon show. You’re thinking of the Secret World of Alex Mack, which stared Larissa Oleynik. Allison Mack was on Smallville, which was a WB/CW show…

  2. Anon says:

    Reading Man Repeller’s announcement, all I could do was nod along. After a brutal loss, I was eager to get pregnant again. It didn’t come easy. Now I am and although filled with joy, I feel awful. Nausea, headaches, and fuzzy brain leave me feeling like a shell of myself. Fear of the what ifs keep me on edge. Our first loss was at 16 weeks, I’m not at that milestone yet and wonder if I will feel “better” when I get there. I never wanted kids until I actually got pregnant and then I wanted it so badly. People act like its all sunshine and rainbows. No one talks about how hard it can be to conceive, carry, and feel normal while doing so. It’s another secret women keep.

  3. Anon says:

    That dress is lovely. But . . . are those . . . her nipples?!

  4. Lindsey says:

    I like the dress, but not the double nip slip…two more zig zag levels, please!

  5. AmandaG says:

    Everyone who says that the women should have said something sooner, should read the first article. It’s not easy. I hope that things in D.C. can come to shameful light soon as they have now had happen in Hollywood. Although, I am not naive enough to think it will end. Thanks for sharing your story.

  6. SARA says:

    I’m sorry that happened to you. Thanks for sharing your story.

  7. Anon For This says:

    I was traveling for work recently. During a refreshment break at a meeting, a senior member of my contingent attempted to touch me inappropriately. I evaded and backed away but he advanced towards me and tried to coerce me into unwanted contact. You hear about this in 1:1 situations but this was in the presence of two others of our group. WTF.

    He has inappropriately touched my colleagues before. I reported my incident. He simply, “got a talking to,” so I’m told.

    I can’t help but continue to feel wary.

    • Belle says:

      Feel very wary. Good luck. This is the hardest thing. When they’re like “Oh we spoke to him.” And you’re like, “Yeah, because I’m sure that did it.” Take care of yourself. I would find an ally. It will be esp. important if something happens again to you or someone else.

  8. LL1234 says:

    As a fellow Hill staffer (past and current), I’m sorry that happened to you. It happened to me too (staffers, not a Member) and I also said nothing because we all know what happens to women who make too big a fuss in DC. It’s truly sick.

    • Belle says:

      The system is so messed up. To report a coworker, you have to agree to six months of counseling. What is that? Who came up with that? Also, I’m encouraged that this Rep. Murphy thing has outed a lot of the verbal abuse some staff take. I was lucky, my boss could be tough but there was never anything like that.

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