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‘God, you’re hot’ Tennessee school board member says to student during board meeting (www.wsmv.com)
submitted 7 months ago by to c/nottheonion@lemmy.world
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[–] 2 points 7 months ago (2 children)

People also laugh when they are uncomfortable and don’t know what else to do. Obviously we’d rather see objections than nervous tittering, but I wouldn’t always take laughter as active complicity / celebration.

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  • [–] [S] 2 points 7 months ago (1 child)

    I was being over the top with the complicity mostly out if anger at the situation. I understand that people respond poorly in stressful situations but we need to start getting better at it.

    This was a time I think it mattered to speak up.

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  • [–] 1 point 7 months ago

    Yeah I agree with all of that. Part of what was in my mind is that I would perceive a man laughing as very different than a woman laughing. I assume that all women live under potential sexual threat from men at all times, and laughing at an advance is a way to defuse it without getting confrontational. “Haha surely you jest” is actually a deflection, even if it isn’t a head on confrontation. I’m a man and I don’t fear direct confrontations, but I understand women don’t have the same privilege as I do in this regard.

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