I was a victim of the CEO and executive officers of a major animal nonprofit. I have signed an NDA and am unable to speak out. I’m feeling hopeless because the harassment case against the CEO recently closed without his being terminated. When will there be justice for those of us that have been bullied and then black listed?1
Introduction
In the last week of January 2018 a flurry of articles implicated Wayne Pacelle, CEO of the animal welfare organization Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), of multiple instances of gross sexual misconduct.2 Some HSUS board members were determined to support their CEO3, but others clamored for Pacelle’s immediate dismissal, and resigned when the board voted to keep the accused.4 Nonetheless, Pacelle stepped down just one week after the first incriminating article carried the voices of his accusers into the public eye.5
In this historic moment, an exposed Pacelle toppled because a variety of journalists and publications and (most fundamentally) a handful of brave survivors/victims, exposed his behavior to the light of day. Despite a largely corrupt board willing to protect and defend their CEO, the powerful Pacelle could not withstand the force of public exposure. Here is the carry away: Where women are organized, and where there are a handful of brave and strong survivors/victims able to come forward to talk to journalists, perpetrators can be removed from power without need of lawyers.
The Bigger Picture6
While activists often speak eloquently of justice, they frequently perpetuate male privilege and sexism. Whether environmentalists, civil rights activists, or community organizers for immigrants, social justice organizations are fertile ground for male7 privilege and sexism8 In fact, male privilege and sexism are likely more common in activist communities than they are in the larger society because men tend to lead social justice organizations – with many women working under them. Additionally, these female employees (and volunteers) tend to be dedicated and loyal to the cause for which they work, they are more likely to trust men inside the movement, and they are less likely to report sexual harassment (or racism or ableism or heterosexism) from fellow activists — especially a person in power.
Two additional factors make sexism and male privilege likely to be particularly problematic in social justice organizations. First, most of us live in male-dominated cultures. Consequently, sexism and male privilege are likely to be carried into organizations from the larger culture. Making matters worse, for social justice organizations to attract new members and gain supporters, they must resonate with the larger culture, encouraging the manifestation of mainstream tendencies, including sexism (and racism, homophobia, ableism, classism, and so on). Second, one reason people join activist organizations is in search of community, and activist are often afraid of losing their community if they cause a rift or publicly accuse a comrade or leader—or worse yet, one of the movement’s much-heralded “heroes”. Unfortunately, for these and other reasons, sexism and male privilege are alive and well in social justice organizations.
Sexism and Male Privilege Harm Activism9
Given that the urge for community often draws people to a cause, and sustains them as activists, it stands to reason that members or employees who feel violated, disrespected, and/or unsafe will leave the movement. When perpetrators drive women away from the movement, they damage the movement. Moreover, sexual harassment and sexual assault usually leave women with a strong feeling of shame and self-hatred. It is difficult to do the hard work of anymal activism with a damaged (or shattered) sense of self; activism requires confidence and strength in the face perpetual resistance.
In many ways we are still waiting for sexism and male privilege to be acknowledged in our movement. A few perpetrators have been implicated at the helm of large, wealthy organizations — HSUS and Mercy for Animals.10 As a woman who has been in this movement more than 30 years, let me be very clear—this just the tip of the iceberg. Unfortunately, the press is unlikely to show much interest in perpetrators who lead smaller organizations, let alone mere employees who take advantage of their colleagues or volunteers, pretending to care about the women they work alongside while engaged in serial relationships, sometimes overlapping serial relationships. The majority of activists volunteer locally, and sexism and male privilege are no less problematic in this context.
Sexism and male privilege harm activists and activism and thwart efforts to bring meaningful change. In a world of systemic oppression—a world where each manifestation of oppression stems from a single root cause deep inside our culture—those incapable of letting male privilege and sexism go, and of standing up against sexism and male privilege, are also incapable of liberating anymals.11
What Can We Do?12
It is unacceptable for comparatively empowered men in the movement to exploit women for sexual pleasure, moving from one woman to the next, leaving a trail of disillusioned and often damaged activists in their wake, sometimes driving talented and dedicated activists from the movement. There are a handful of critical changes we must make to address this problem. First, hire women. In a movement that is 75-80% women, no organization should be run by a man (any more than white people should be running organizations that are predominantly staffed by people of color)—especially in light of recent allegations of sexual assault in multiple organizations in the anymal welfare community (and similarly, in light of racism). To hire a man in such a female-dominated movement is to assert that women make fine staff but are not good enough to be leaders. If men are hired to serve as staff, they ought to be hired in proportion to the larger movement – no more than 25%. Men wishing to volunteer will, of course, always be welcome, unless they are known perpetrators who have not gone through an accountability process.
Second, comprehensive sexual harassment policies must be drawn up and prominently displayed, at a minimum, complete with the following:
- definitions of terms, including “harassment,” “sexual harassment,” “sexual assault,” “discrimination,” and “bullying”;
- links to video clips that provide examples of unacceptable behavior and appropriate responses;
- mandatory reporting, including a clear explanation of what to do (the process for reporting);
- in the United States, explanations of Title VII13 and Title IX;14
- links to outside resources such as CANHAD.org;
- whistle-blower protection including a clear statement of what this requires of overhead;
- annual, required harassment and discrimination trainings annually for all employees and volunteers;
- information about outside agencies where employees can learn more regarding harassment and discrimination and employee rights.
Third, until necessary changes in leadership and staff is put into play, it is critical to create and maintain regular women-only meetings and women-only spaces. Testimonies reveal certain men in the movement who have been sexually harassing and sexually assaulting women (including rape) for years—even decades. When women get together, they share experiences. In women-only gatherings and women-only spaces, harassment and assaults are much less likely to remain hidden. By sharing experiences, women gain strength through numbers. This is why, when one woman comes forward, the dam has a tendency to burst with first a trickle, and then a flood of women stepping forward.
There are many other important steps to be taken to roll back male privilege and reduce sexism in the movement. For example, activists must be informed regarding the problems of sexism and male privilege (as well as racism, heterosexism, ableism, and classism, for example), and actively resist these forces in the movement and in our own persons, including sexist language and mainstream gender norms. It is especially important that leadership, donors, volunteers, and members be informed, and take a firm stand against male privilege and sexism (for instance, as Vegan Outreach and Tofurky have recently done with their policies). Where leaders are concerned, who better to understand and work against sexism and racism, for example, than a woman of color? Another safeguard is to discourage internal relationships. Because the movement is largely female, women end up competing for the few men who are in the movement, which further empowers men while dangerously dis-empowering women, pitting them against one another. At an absolute minimum, managers in organizations should refrain from engaging in relationships with those they supervise. Additionally, perpetrators must be exposed (instead of being protected), and they must leave the movement (to be reconsidered only after an accountability process). Perpetrators must not be permitted to move laterally into other positions or organizations. Finally, always support victims/survivors who come forward—listen to what they say and always follow their lead in deciding any course of action.
Conclusion
Near the end of the media frenzy covering Wayne Pacelle’s sexual transgressions as CEO at HSUS, a survivor/victim wrote:
People want facts. They don’t realize that there are a lot of us women out here who have facts of our own. Facts of our experiences of sexual harassment. Facts about how this CEO told us, as his colleagues and subordinates, that if we would travel with him. . . we could be his fuck buddy, texted us late at night trying to develop a relationship, asked inappropriate personal relationship questions, repeatedly asked for sex and gave graphic details about how he would please us [in order] to pressure us or try to persuade us to say yes, asked us to strip for him, asked if he could masturbate in front of us, told us not to tell anyone because it would hurt his organization and his job and our jobs…
Facts about how if you did sleep with him[,] you would get promoted, more money for your program area, a job . . . even if you had no qualification or prior experience…
Facts about how[,] if you said no to him[,] he might [say,] “No one has ever told me no before”[; or] if you declined because you didn’t want to cheat on your partner or spouse[,] that it’s okay because “everyone cheats.” Or that he “doesn’t drink, or smoke or do drugs. That sex is my vice.”
Some people are arguing that these relationships are no big deal because they are consensual. Put yourself in these women’s shoes. The most powerful man in the AR movement is saying these things to you. He’s your boss. You don’t know what will happen if you say no—you don’t know what will happen to your job and you don’t know what will happen to you physically either.
The US Dept[.] of Health and Human Services’ definition of sexual coercion includes being asked by your boss or a person with authority over you to have sex. This is an abuse of power. And it has been going on for decades.15
Not all powerful men in the movement are perpetrators, but it is now painfully clear that at least some—including some of the most powerful men in the movement, exploit female activists for personal sexual gratification. Not only Wayne Pacelle, but “Paul Shapiro, Nick Cooney, and Hugo Dominguez have been accused (some multiple times).”16 And for many of us, these accusations come as “no surprise at all”17 — in fact, we have been waiting anxiously, even desperately, for this day to come: “There have been rumblings in the movement about these men, and others, for years.”18
Just as anymal activists work to bring equality between humans and anymals — basic protections for liberty, bodily integrity and life — feminists work to bring equality between women and men. Oppressions are interconnected. Consequently, there can be no liberation for anymals when men in the movement are exploiting women in the movement. If men insist on protecting and perpetuating their privileges in the movement, we cannot and will not ever liberate anymals. Men who bask in their male privilege and perpetuate sexism in the movement are not sincere about liberating anymals—they have merely found another path to power, prestige, and sexual gratification.
And now, working together, we have shown that we know how to remove them.
- “Testimonials: Speak Out.” CANHAD.org. Submitted Feb. 1, 2018. https://www.canhad.org/read-testimonials/
- Kullgren, Ian. “Female Employees Allege Culture of Sexual Harassment at Humane Society: Two Senior Officials, Including the CEO, have been Investigated for Incidents Dating Back over a Decade.” The Global Politico: Politiclo Podcasts. Jan. 30, 2018. https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2018/01/30/humane-society-sexual-harassment-allegations-investigation-216553; Paquette, Danielle. “Humane Society Donors Call for Firing of Chief Executive after Sexual Harassment Complaints.” The Washington Post: Business. Jan. 31 2018. https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/humane-society-donors-call-for-firing-of-chief-executive-after-sexual-harassment-complaints/2018/01/31/695722f8-06c0-11e8-8777-2a059f168dd2_story.html?utm_term=.6dcbaff3bbc0; Paquette, Danielle. “Humane Society CEO Wayne Pacelle Accused of Sexual Harassment by Three Women.” The Washington Post. Jan. 29, 2018. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ct-humane-society-ceo-sexual-harassment-20180129-story.html; Gunther, Marc. “The Latest: #MeToo and the Animal Welfare Movement.” Nonprofit Chronicles: Journalism about Nonprofit Organizations and their Impact. Jan. 31, 2018. https://nonprofitchronicles.com/2018/01/31/the-latest-metoo-and-the-animal-welfare-movement/; Gunther, Marc. “Humane Society CEO under Investigation for Sexual Relationship With Employee.” Chronicle of Philanthropy. Jan. 25, 2018. https://www.philanthropy.com/article/Humane-Society-CEO-Under/242342/#.Wmp_X7EgKp4.facebook
- Paquette, Danielle. “Humane Society Donors Call for Firing of Chief Executive after Sexual Harassment Complaints.” The Washington Post: Business. Jan. 31 2018. https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/humane-society-donors-call-for-firing-of-chief-executive-after-sexual-harassment-complaints/2018/01/31/695722f8-06c0-11e8-8777-2a059f168dd2_story.html?utm_term=.6dcbaff3bbc0
- Cummings, William. Published 8:02 p.m. ET Feb. 1, 2018Humane Society Sticks with CEO Accused of Sexual Misconduct; 7 Board Members Resign, WaPo Reports. USA Today. Feb. 1, 2018. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2018/02/01/humane-society-board-resignations/1089067001/
- I date this from Marc Gunther’s piece on January 25, 2018 “Humane Society CEO Under Investigation for Sexual Relationship With Employee” in the Chronicle of Philanthropy https://www.philanthropy.com/article/Humane-Society-CEO-Under/242342. Pacelle stepped down on February 1, 2018.
- This section is indebted to research for “1. Sexism and Male Privilege in Social Justice Activism,” an article not yet submitted for publication.
- It is with trepidation that I fall back on conventional terms, “Male” and “female,” “men” and “women,” knowing that on the one hand I offend those who do not fit into this binary, and if I open the door to all who “identify as” male or female, I offend those who would keep the sanctity of those born “women” in the more conventional sense.
- Women can be abusive and lesbians can be batterers, but this article focuses specifically on dominant/mainstream cultures, which tend to be male dominated and heterosexual. Nor do I accuse all men of sexual assault simply because they are men or assert that all men share equally in male privilege. As one author whom I read states: “but let’s be realistic: distinct patterns of oppressive behavior and power still fall pretty predictably along gender lines. If gender-based organizing can help dislodge those patterns, perhaps we must embrace that contradiction and do our best to engage with it in all its messy complexity” (“Accounting for Ourselves” 35).
- This section is indebted to research soon to be printed in “2. Harms of Sexism and Male Privilege in the Animal Liberation/Rights Movement.” Politics and Animals. Currently under review.
- Gunther, Marc. “At Mercy for Animals, no mercy for women.” Nonprofit Chronicles: Journalism about Nonprofit Organizations and their Impact. Feb. 9, 2018. <https://nonprofitchronicles.com/2018/02/09/at-mercy-for-animals-no-mercy-for-women/>
- “Anymal” (a contraction of “any” and “animal,” pronounced like “any” and “mal”), refers to all individuals who are of a species other than that of the speaker/author. This means that when human beings use the term, they indicate individuals from every species except Homo sapiens. If a chimpanzee signs “anymal,” or a parrot speaks the word, individuals of every species (including human beings) are indicated except chimpanzees and parrots, respectively. Using the term “anymal” avoids the use of “animal” as if human beings were not animals; dualistic and alienating terms such as “non” and “other”; and cumbersome terms like “nonhuman animals” and “other-than-human animals.” See Kemmerer, Lisa. “Verbal Activism: ‘Anymals’.” Society and Animals 14.1 (May 2006): 9-14. http://lisakemmerer.com/Articles/anymal%20article%20Jan%202016.pdf
- This section is indebted to research for “5. Turning Toward Change: Sexism and Male Privilege in the Animal Liberation/Rights Movement,” not yet submitted for publication.
- Title VII “prohibits employers from discriminating against employees on the basis of sex, race, color, national origin, and religion” (“Know Your Rights”).
- Title IX states, “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance” (“Title IX”).
- Anonymous. “TimesUpAR.” Carol J. Adams Blogpost. Jan. 29, 2018. http://caroljadams.com/carol-adams-blog/timesupar
- Smith, Gary. “Enough is Enough: Silence is what’s Actually Hurting Animals.” The Thinking Vegan. Jan. 31, 2018. http://thethinkingvegan.com/articles/silence-is-whats-actually-hurting-animals/
- Smith, Gary. “Enough is Enough: Silence is what’s Actually Hurting Animals.” The Thinking Vegan. Jan. 31, 2018. http://thethinkingvegan.com/articles/silence-is-whats-actually-hurting-animals/
- Smith, Gary. “Enough is Enough: Silence is what’s Actually Hurting Animals.” The Thinking Vegan. Jan. 31, 2018. http://thethinkingvegan.com/articles/silence-is-whats-actually-hurting-animals/
It is so sad that an article such as this had to be written – but I am very glad it was. Hopefully, the recommendations Dr. Kemmerer has suggested will be put into place and the movement can begin to purify itself from the odious behavior that was forced on these women. The fact that these women joined organizations with the hope of making the world a better place and then were betrayed by those who claimed the same is an unforgivable crime. “Oppressions are interconnected. Consequently, there can be no liberation for anymals when men in the movement are exploiting women in the movement. If men insist on protecting and perpetuating their privileges in the movement, we cannot and will not ever liberate anymals. Men who bask in their male privilege and perpetuate sexism in the movement are not sincere about liberating anymals—they have merely found another path to power, prestige, and sexual gratification.” Truer words have never been spoken.