--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Sexual harassment legislation feels…" description: "\"Sexual harassment legislation feels unfair to men because if they sued over an ethnic joke, or over a woman discussing pornography or asking them out, ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b3/warren-farrell-1187_asking_sexual-harassment-legislation-feels-unfa_2302651.png" --- # Sexual harassment legislation feels unfair to men because… ![“Sexual harassment legislation feels unfair to men because if they sued over an ethnic joke, or over a woman discussing pornography or asking them out, they'd be laughed out of the company.” quote by Warren Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b3/warren-farrell-1187_asking_sexual-harassment-legislation-feels-unfa_2302651.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b3/warren-farrell-1187_asking_sexual-harassment-legislation-feels-unfa_2302651.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b3/warren-farrell-1187_asking_sexual-harassment-legislation-feels-unfa_2302651.png) > “Sexual harassment legislation feels unfair to men because if they sued over an ethnic joke, or over a woman discussing pornography or asking them out, they'd be laughed out of the company.” [Warren Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-farrell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker argues that current sexual harassment laws can be misapplied, causing men to be unfairly penalized for non‑sexual interactions. **In simple terms:** Men may feel vulnerable under broad harassment rules. Key Takeaway Advocate clearer, intent‑based standards. Themes gender equity law workplace culture Mood frustrated defensive Type cautionary critical When to use this quote - HR policy drafting - employee training - legal defense - media commentary Key Concepts legal standards intent power dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How can policies distinguish harmful conduct from harmless banter? - What safeguards protect both parties from misuse? A Different Perspective Laws may overreach and stifle legitimate humor or court. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Company](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/company/) [Harassment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harassment/) [Jokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jokes/) [Legislation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/legislation/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Pornography](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pornography/) ## Related quotes > [Sexual harassment legislation in its present form makes all men unequal to all women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-farrell/sexual-harassment-legislation-in-its-present-form-makes-all-men/) [Warren Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-farrell/) > [I'm a human rights person. I don't think people should be unfair to men or women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-steel/i-m-a-human-rights-person-i-don-t-think-people-should-be-unfair-to/) [Danielle Steel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-steel/) > [In a sense, sexual harassment lawsuits are just the latest version of the female selection process allowing her to select for men who care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-farrell/in-a-sense-sexual-harassment-lawsuits-are-just-the-latest-version-of/) [Warren Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-farrell/) > [Sexual harassment in the workplace confuses rewards for performance with rewards for attractiveness and sexual availability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-farrell/sexual-harassment-in-the-workplace-confuses-rewards-for-performance/) [Warren Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-farrell/) > [#MeToo is a welcome change, and I would encourage women to call out sexual harassment issues in their workplaces.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anirudh-ravichander/metoo-is-a-welcome-change-and-i-would-encourage-women-to-call-out/) [Anirudh Ravichander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anirudh-ravichander/) > [It takes courage to come forward, and I don't want any victim of sexual harassment to think twice about doing so.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-reynolds/it-takes-courage-to-come-forward-and-i-don-t-want-any-victim-of/) [Kim Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-reynolds/) > [When women are told that sexual harassment is 'part of the job' or when assistants of both sexes enable harassing behavior, they have bought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pramila-jayapal/when-women-are-told-that-sexual-harassment-is-part-of-the-job-or-when/) [Pramila Jayapal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pramila-jayapal/) > [“We live in a world in which women are battered and are unable to flee from the men who beat them, although their door…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natascha-kampusch/we-live-in-a-world-in-which-women-are-battered-and-are-unable-to-flee/) [Natascha Kampusch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natascha-kampusch/) > [“We have that sexual harassment conference that’s mandatory right after lunch.” He eyes me. “Oh, is it going to be given by Hannah?” I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-madison/we-have-that-sexual-harassment-conference-that-s-mandatory-right/) [Natasha Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-madison/) > [Sexual harassment law is very important. But I think it would be a mistake if the sexual harassment law movement is the only way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-butler/sexual-harassment-law-is-very-important-but-i-think-it-would-be-a/) [Judith Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-butler/) > [I believe that victims of sexual harassment must be allowed to tell their story on their time, in their own way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-reynolds/i-believe-that-victims-of-sexual-harassment-must-be-allowed-to-tell/) [Kim Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-reynolds/) > [I'm all for teaching about important concepts like consent; I'm also very aware of how damaging and destructive it can be to be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kat-timpf/i-m-all-for-teaching-about-important-concepts-like-consent-i-m-also/) [Kat Timpf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kat-timpf/) > [Sexual harassment and gender discrimination is real, it's far more pervasive than I think people have been willing to acknowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-west/sexual-harassment-and-gender-discrimination-is-real-it-s-far-more/) [Tony West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-west/) > [Whether it's Hollywood or Bollywood, sexual harassment is a reality. I've experienced it first-hand, and I know many of my counterparts have as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shenaz-treasury/whether-it-s-hollywood-or-bollywood-sexual-harassment-is-a-reality-i/) [Shenaz Treasury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shenaz-treasury/) > [“Technically this is assault and Henry would tell me to verbally request that you not file a sexual harassment claim against me,” she said,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seanan-mcguire/technically-this-is-assault-and-henry-would-tell-me-to-verbally/) [Seanan McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seanan-mcguire/) ## More by Warren Farrell > [Men are fair, and they have learned not to personalize anger - they can disagree with you and argue to the bone, but afterward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-farrell/men-are-fair-and-they-have-learned-not-to-personalize-anger-they-can/) [Warren Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-farrell/) > [Sexual harassment legislation in its present form makes all men unequal to all women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-farrell/sexual-harassment-legislation-in-its-present-form-makes-all-men/) [Warren Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-farrell/) > [By starving our children of men, we have made them more vulnerable to the very abuse we are trying to prevent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-farrell/by-starving-our-children-of-men-we-have-made-them-more-vulnerable-to/) [Warren Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-farrell/) > [The legal bias for special protection for women has begun to wreak havoc with the Constitution's guarantee of equal protection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-farrell/the-legal-bias-for-special-protection-for-women-has-begun-to-wreak/) [Warren Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-farrell/) > [After years of research, I discovered 25 differences in the work-life choices of men and women. All 25 lead to men earning more money,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-farrell/after-years-of-research-i-discovered-25-differences-in-the-work-life/) [Warren Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-farrell/) > [In the past we believed both sexes were born with original sin. Today, we have come to unconsciously believe in the original sin of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-farrell/in-the-past-we-believed-both-sexes-were-born-with-original-sin-today/) [Warren Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-farrell/) > [If we hold the married man accountable for finances gone legally awry, then the married woman should be held accountable for children who go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-farrell/if-we-hold-the-married-man-accountable-for-finances-gone-legally-awry/) [Warren Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-farrell/) > [Black men, Indian men, and gay men have all have something in common: They do not provide an economic security blanket for women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-farrell/black-men-indian-men-and-gay-men-have-all-have-something-in-common/) [Warren Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-farrell/) > [ In Stage I, divorces were not allowed, so men's \[sexual\] affairs did not put women's economic security in jeopardy; in Stage II, affairs could… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-farrell/in-stage-i-divorces-were-not-allowed-so-men-s-sexual-affairs-did-not/) [Warren Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-farrell/) > [Men tuned into women but not tuned into their own hurts usually retained the attitude that women needed special protection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-farrell/men-tuned-into-women-but-not-tuned-into-their-own-hurts-usually/) [Warren Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-farrell/) > [We have restricted humans from giving 'free' food to bears and dolphins because we know that such feeding would make them dependent and lead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-farrell/we-have-restricted-humans-from-giving-free-food-to-bears-and-dolphins/) [Warren Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-farrell/) > [Irony: While we increasingly hold people more responsible if they drink and drive, we hold women less responsible if they drink and have sex.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-farrell/irony-while-we-increasingly-hold-people-more-responsible-if-they/) [Warren Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-farrell/) > [A family that knows how to play together has the tools to stay together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-farrell/a-family-that-knows-how-to-play-together-has-the-tools-to-stay/) [Warren Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-farrell/) > [For example, the equivalent of a woman being treated as a sex object is a man being treated as a success object.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-farrell/for-example-the-equivalent-of-a-woman-being-treated-as-a-sex-object/) [Warren Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-farrell/) > [Sometimes I have a feeling, when I look back on my life, that all I've been through has prepared me perfectly for just what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-farrell/sometimes-i-have-a-feeling-when-i-look-back-on-my-life-that-all-i-ve/) [Warren Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-farrell/) [Explore all 277 Warren Farrell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-farrell/) ## More Asking quotes > [Why did Erich von Stronheim leave Germany? Why did Hitchcock leave England? If you were a director you'd like to work in Hollywood too.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-polanski/why-did-erich-von-stronheim-leave-germany-why-did-hitchcock-leave/) [Roman Polanski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-polanski/) > [And in your new lives you'll have to live entirely for that one sensation-that of imminent truth. And you're going to have to holler…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/and-in-your-new-lives-you-ll-have-to-live-entirely-for-that-one/) [Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/) > [“Stop asking yourself how or why and tell yourself you can." - Charmainism”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charmaine-smith-ladd/stop-asking-yourself-how-or-why-and-tell-yourself-you-can-charmainism/) [Charmaine Smith Ladd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charmaine-smith-ladd/) > [Closing his eyes, he sent up a prayer to anyone who was listening, asking please, for God's sake, stop sending him signals that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/closing-his-eyes-he-sent-up-a-prayer-to-anyone-who-was-listening/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [People will identify with a persecuted minority without asking themselves what they are identifying with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/people-will-identify-with-a-persecuted-minority-without-asking/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [If you're having a bad day already and everybody is just asking you petty questions, it drives people to the edge, or something really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-weixler/if-you-re-having-a-bad-day-already-and-everybody-is-just-asking-you/) [Jess Weixler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-weixler/) > [You never give away your heart; you lend it from time to time. If it were not so, how could we take it back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanette-winterson/you-never-give-away-your-heart-you-lend-it-from-time-to-time-if-it/) [Jeanette Winterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanette-winterson/) > [I'm not asking people to feel sorry for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-abramoff/i-m-not-asking-people-to-feel-sorry-for-me/) [Jack Abramoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-abramoff/) > [The boldness of asking deep questions may require unforeseen flexibility if we are to accept the answers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-greene/the-boldness-of-asking-deep-questions-may-require-unforeseen/) [Brian Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-greene/) > [Use Google Before Asking A Stupid Question.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muskaan/use-google-before-asking-a-stupid-question/) [Muskaan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muskaan/) > [There were people asking 'Can women be funny?' People still ask that. It's like asking: 'Can women breathe in and out?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-walters/there-were-people-asking-can-women-be-funny-people-still-ask-that-it/) [Julie Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-walters/) > [Whether that's speaking up in your job or asking for a promotion or saying, 'I think I can do that.' Using your voice in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-shriver/whether-that-s-speaking-up-in-your-job-or-asking-for-a-promotion-or/) [Maria Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-shriver/) > [Love cannot be had for the asking; it comes only as a gift from the heart of another](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/love-cannot-be-had-for-the-asking-it-comes-only-as-a-gift-from-the/) [Paramahansa Yogananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paramahansa-yogananda/) > [The Baseball Hall of Fame is something every player dreams about, but being a member of God's Hall of Fame is the greatest achievement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-carter/the-baseball-hall-of-fame-is-something-every-player-dreams-about-but/) [Gary Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-carter/) > [“In such a regime, I say you died a good death if your life had inspired someone to come forward and shoot your murdered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/in-such-a-regime-i-say-you-died-a-good-death-if-your-life-had/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) Browse all 3,313 Asking quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Sexual harassment legislation feels unfair to men because if they sued over an ethnic joke, or over a woman discussing pornography or asking them out, they'd be laughed out of the company.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Warren Farrell" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-farrell/sexual-harassment-legislation-feels-unfair-to-men-because-if-they/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Asking" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-farrell/sexual-harassment-legislation-feels-unfair-to-men-because-if-they/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b3/warren-farrell-1187_asking_sexual-harassment-legislation-feels-unfa_2302651.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b3/warren-farrell-1187_asking_sexual-harassment-legislation-feels-unfa_2302651.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b3/warren-farrell-1187_asking_sexual-harassment-legislation-feels-unfa_2302651.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Sexual harassment legislation feels unfair to men because if they sued over an ethnic joke, or over a woman…” — Warren Farrell", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Warren Farrell", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-farrell/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Sexual harassment legislation feels unfair to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-farrell/sexual-harassment-legislation-feels-unfair-to-men-because-if-they/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-farrell/sexual-harassment-legislation-feels-unfair-to-men-because-if-they/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```