equal. Obviously, this was not the case. Oncale was targeted because he was perceived as weaker than his co-workers. A deontologist would assuredly point out that Oncale’s basic human rights were violated. His “personhood” was not respected. Sundowner’s argument that same sex discrimination doesn’t exist is faulty. Sexual abuse of men by men is, and always has been, a serious and neglected social problem. Typically, men are raped by other men when they are isolated in a situation where there are no women; in prisons, in confined and isolated work sites, in the military, at all male colleges, and in athletics. Male sexual aggression has always had widespread negative effects and deep roots in egoism and perceived sexual inequality. I am glad the court recognized that some weaker members of society are targeted simply because they are easy targets. When Sundowner claimed that Title VII was created specifically for women who have been harassed by men, it’s obvious they were trying to use the letter of the law, versus the spirit of the law to extricate themselves from a lawsuit and avoid harmful publicity. In reality, the act was written during a time when quid pro quo, man/woman sexual harassment was a highly controversial and political issue. However, I believe Sundowner was only trying to hide behind legalese armor and refused to admit that they failed in their more basic responsibility to protect the dignity, and physical and emotional well being of an employee. Regardless of Title VII’s original legal intent to protect women, the situation certainly applied to Joseph Oncale.Again, I agree with Solomon who states, “Responsibility need not mean that you are the cause of the problem, it does mean, however, that you are in a position to do something about it, and just as important, that you ought to do something about it” (70). John Lyons was guilty of a serious abuse of...
