Article March 16, 1992 Issue

Stopping sexual harassment through prayer

Prayer doesn't shut our eyes to discrimination; it lets us see how to put an end to wrong.

Elise L. Moore

It was my first job after college. I was the token professional woman in the department, in the plant for that matter. A few of the men refused to work with me and told me so. Most, however, were professional, helpful, and respectful. But there was the remainder. The terms sexual harassment and sexual discrimination hadn't been popularized yet. But that's what it was, from open sexual approaches to catcalls to demeaning remarks. There were several uncomfortable, difficult, and even frightening experiences. Yet I was able to meet these challenges through prayer.

The initial incident occurred during the interview process. It was clear the interviewer wasn't accustomed to working with women. His remarks were sexist and demeaning. I dreaded the prospect of a second interview and considered withdrawing my application.

This was my first encounter with such a prejudiced attitude, and I ended up calling my mother that evening in tears. As we talked, I began to realize that the interviewer probably wasn't even aware of the impact of his words. He apparently saw men and women strictly as physical personalities, categorized by age, race, and sex characteristics. In Christian Science I had learned to see man as a generic term, referring to all the sons and daughters of God, made in the divine image and likeness. Recognizing God as incorporeal Spirit, rather than as a male, humanlike being, frees us to appreciate the spiritual nature and essence of ourselves and others.

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March 16, 1992
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