Sexual harassment claims seem to be occurring almost hourly now.  Whether it’s against a politician, a Hollywood celebrity or sports star, turn on the TV and someone is accused of sexually harassing/discriminating or even sexually abusing another less powerful victim.

So, it raises the question as to whether or not there are cases out there of women who have been sexually discriminated against, abused or harassed by board members in power over their association and its members.

Typically, sexual harassment is defined as unwanted sexual advances.   I’m not SOLELY talking about that.  I’m also talking about whether there are women out there whose opinions on certain association matters were discounted or ridiculed simply because she was a woman.

Let me give you an example.  One of the first calls I ever took on the Condo Craze Radio Show was from some dope who claimed that it was ridiculous that a fellow Board member, who is a woman, had an opinion on how to fix a roof.  After all, what does a woman know about fixing a roof?

In addition, a President I knew was once accused of an improper sexual advance by a female owner who said he had requested sex in exchange for looking the other way in regards to some ongoing violations.

In the first example, a woman’s opinion was discounted and ignored simply because she was a woman.  That’s sexual discrimination to me.  In the second example, that’s sexual harassment and abuse in its purest and simplest form.

Everything we have read in the last few months about sexual harassment and discrimination gives the impression that they are problems that exist in all workplaces, in all communities.  So the question is…..are our community associations and Boards part or not part of that equation?

This blog is anonymous.  Has anyone been the victim of such harassment or discrimination?  What did you do about it?  Did you come forward?  Why or why not?