AJ Clark

Laura Metzger

Composition 1302

7 November 2014

 

            People commonly think that sexual harassment can only victimize women, making men the victimizer, but that is not true. A women, Pam Matranga, was found guilty and charged $567,000 for sexually harassing one of her employees, James Gist. This woman was also an elected official. She was a constable for Galveston County. One would think that someone charged with protecting the people would try to be a bit more appropriate. Unfortunately she was not. Many people would say that a man would enjoy having a woman willingly offer to touch her breast, or for a woman to give a man a lap dance, but when a man does not want any such thing, then that is when the line is crossed into sexual harassment. “Texas Man Wins…” reports:

The attorney blamed Galveston County for not doing enough to stop Matranga’s behavior, noting that she was known to pull her shirt over her deputies’ heads (Matranga admitted to the behavior at trial but denied doing it to Griffin) and often made off-color jokes. (Koplowitz)

Gist was not only a victim to harassment, but also to prejudice. He was a victim to the prejudice that only a man can sexually harass a woman and not vice versa.

            The article was a well written report of the results of the trial. It was not biased, giving Matranga’s side of the story. Matranga claims “Gist wanted to get back at her for refusing to promote him”. She goes on to claim that this case was just to get money. Maybe that was the point of the case, but the jury was in favor of Gist, awarding him $567,000.

 

Koplowitz, Howard. “Texas Man Wins Sexual Harassment Case Against Female Boss: Jury Awards James Gist $567K In Pam Matranga Case.” International Business Times. N.p., 24 Mar. 2014. Web. 7 Nov. 2014.