#metoo: The Gender Equality Law Center's Campaign to Fight Back

We are launching a campaign to fight back against sexual harassment and assault in our New York City neighborhoods. The recent #metoo hashtag that swept social media has helped to increase awareness of gender-based harassment in the workplace. Many of the stories in the news pertain to professional women, most of whom hold power in their field or are high income earners. These women can access lawyers who charge for their services. By comparison, low income victims seeking access to justice are often disproportionately disempowered to come forward because they lack the financial means to hire counsel.

GELC currently works to eradicate sexual harassment and assault in the workplace, but the increased need for our pro bono work has become more evident than ever. In the wake of the alarming number of survivors of harassment that have bravely come forward, we are seeking to expand our free legal services for low income women, in direct response to this increased need.

By reaching our fundraising goal for this project, we will increase our capacity to advise and consult with more victims of sexual harassment. The money that is raised will also support a public education campaign so that employees understand their rights to earn a wage while remaining free from sexual harassment at work.

• Launch a free legal clinic to address issues of sexual harassment at work.
• Expand the reach of our hotline to give free legal advice, referrals and representation to workers experiencing sexual harassment.
• Implement an outreach campaign to increase the volume of cases we take on to have the most systemic impact.
• Develop sexual harassment public education trainings to increase our community’s understanding of the law so that victims of sexual harassment know their rights and employers know their obligations in maintaining a safe and affirming work environment.

Sexual harassment in the workplace has been illegal for decades, but the recent headlines tell us that this has in no way put an end to sexual harassment, nor has it empowered women to come forward. Although there has been a radical illumination on sexual harassment and assault in nearly every industry, for every powerful woman who feared coming forward for the loss of her career, there are many, many low income women for whom this reality is exacerbated by fear over loss of their income, their home, their healthcare, and their ability to care for their children. Our work centers on empowering and supporting those women who cannot afford to hire private lawyers so that those women are heard, believed, supported, uplifted and given access to the social and legal services they need—regardless of income and social status.

In light of the recent exposures illustrating just how pervasive sexual harassment is in many workplaces, GELC is committed more than ever to fighting back against the renewed and plentiful efforts to roll back rights for women.

 “When I found the Gender Equality Law Center, they put all the pieces back together and became the voice I needed so that I could be heard and taken seriously. GELC became my fiercest advocate.” - GELC Client