Since the 1970s and 1980s, women have pursued high-profile legal cases and leveraged public pressure to call out sexual and racial harassment in the workplace. In the wake of the #MeToo and #BlackLivesMatter movements, a new generation is coming forward to bring an end to sexual, racial, and other forms of harassment and hold perpetrators accountable, whether individual or corporate. During this panel, three Wellesley College alumnae will discuss their personal and professional experiences speaking out against labor abuse and their hopes for a more equitable workplace for women.

Society-wide, there is a growing consensus that workplace harassment is often intersectional. That is, discrimination, harassment, and intimidation based on factors such as sex, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender expression, ability status, immigration status, religion, and the like are often co-occurring. Uniquely vulnerable are those in low-wage jobs and industries. Because we now know that workplace harassment is associated with costs to physical and mental health, as well as lower earnings and the risk of retaliation for speaking up, we must broaden our approach to making sustainable change. From their varied perspectives and powerful personal stories, our panelists, and moderator Linda Wertheimer ’65, will talk about possible ways forward.

Panelists:

• Shelly Anand ’08, J.D., is executive director and co-founder of Sur Legal Collaborative, an immigrant and worker rights non-profit organization based in Atlanta, Georgia.
• Lindsey Boylan ’06, MBA, is a career urban planner who previously served as the Deputy Secretary for Economic Development and Housing for the State of New York.
• Charlotte Newman ’04, MBA, is a global business development leader in technology and an advocate for workplace equity.
• Moderator Linda Wertheimer ’65 is a senior national correspondent for National Public Radio, a member of the WCW Council of Advisors, a former Wellesley College Alumnae Trustee, and an Alumnae Achievement Award recipient.

Please register in advance.

This virtual program is part of the Social Change Dialogues series hosted by the Wellesley Centers for Women, with support from the Cowles/Sulzberger Fund. The program will be recorded and shared with those who cannot attend live. Please send questions about the program to wcw@wellesley.edu.