Was Ines Sainz Harassed by The New York Jets?

Ha, wow, I didn’t realize she was a Tom Brady stalker, though who isn’t these days… but seriously, yea she does seem to be doing a disservice to women who have real Sexual Harassment claims. http://www.inspiringmothers.net/child-abuse/sexual...

what a unique, refreshing and valuable perspective you have. many thanks for taking the time to share your experience.

What she wore (or didn't wear) is irrelevant. If she was harrassed, she was harrassed. Period.

She made choices that were unwise/controversial - her clothing, her visit to the locker room, for example. But to attack her for doing so is like saying a woman is culpable if she is raped when dressed provocatively.

Besides, Ines isn't the one who is complaining in this case. I suspect she's lovin' it.

Beyond the previously mentioned fact that male sports reporters have never been limited to where they can be, where exactly would you like female sports reporters to go? Back to the kitchen?

Contributing Editor Jenna Hatfield (@FireMom ( http://twitter.com/FireMom )) blogs at Stop, Drop and Blog ( http://stopdropandblog.com ) and The Chronicles of Munchkin Land ( http://thechroniclesofmunchkinland.com ). She is a freelance writer and newspaper photographer.

When I was on the sidelines of the Steelers-Jets (HA!) playoff game in 2004, I wore normal pants, a black turtleneck sweater, my black pea coat and SHOES THAT YOU COULD WALK ON A FOOTBALL FIELD WITH, for Pete's sake. When I go to PSU-OSU as a photographer, I'll be wearing (normal) jeans, a sweater, a warm jacket and NORMAL FREAKING SHOES.

Women in media, especially traditional media that show an interest in anything sports-oriented, are going to experience sexual harassment more than the average woman. In fact, while I was still in the press box for that Steelers-Jets playoff game before I hit the field, a young male sports reporter could not figure out HOW and WHY I was in the press box as a FEMALE. I just looked at him and said, "Seriously?"

The locker room experience was, well, interesting. It's a locker room and there was locker room talk. Thankfully, Ben was already dressed and at the press meeting by the time I got downstairs. No one was blatantly inappropriate, and perhaps that was because my camera man was, well, a man. (I say that tongue in cheek, mind you.)

Women sports reporters are under higher scrutiny than men. It sucks. But it's still the reality. You can still dress fashionably without looking out of place on the sideline. She still may have gotten comments if she had on, I don't know, pants because she is who she is.

I feel horrible if Ines did experience sexual harassment. There's a long journey ahead for female sports reporters... and it's going to be a longer journey wearing those shoes.

Contributing Editor Jenna Hatfield (@FireMom ( http://twitter.com/FireMom )) blogs at Stop, Drop and Blog ( http://stopdropandblog.com ) and The Chronicles of Munchkin Land ( http://thechroniclesofmunchkinland.com ). She is a freelance writer and newspaper photographer.

I think by now most people know that Google results are based what the majority of Google users want to see and not necessarily what the person/company/etc. in question wants shown. There may be some argument about whether or not Ms. Sainz can be blamed for what she was wearing that day but you cannot condemn her for what shows up on Google. Ask Erin Andrews.

Regarding those photos and her "newsbabe" persona, you are right that she has probably endured quite a bit of harassment over the years. Does that give future harassers a free pass? If she chooses to pose for a bikini photo shoot that's her business. She didn't show up at the game in a bikini. She was there as a reporter and had every right to be treated as such.

Her career and image are based on her looks and she was dressed in a way consistent with that. Was it provocative? That's subjective. Was she truly offended? We will never know. Were the players out of line? See both of the above.

There is too much we'll never know about this story to begin assigning blame. And in many cases like this, there is some fault on both sides. Condemning this woman with flimsy arguments about her looks, what she wears on the job, what she wears off the job, and how "used" to harassment she must be does a huge disservice to both of the parties involved and to men and women on the whole.

I agree that this reporter was looking for attention. She got what she was looking for. Sadly, she fuels the fire of men not believing a woman's point of view without thinking there is an angle. Women who manipulate others - whether it be men, the media or other women - are doing it to get what they want. These are passive aggressive and borderline personality traits. Grow up.

Patty

For me, solidarity is the order of the day here amongst women and men who are feminists. I'm not going to comment on her attire - her employer has no issue with it, nor do I. Seems like a damned if you do, damned if you don't scenario and I don't blame victims.

If the NFL allows reporters into the locker room, a fact which the players are obviously aware of, then it is up to the league to ensure that the environment is one which is inclusive of both genders and is not hostile. They are allowed about 10-15 minutes to high-five each other or weep as the case may be, but it's up to the players and management to prepare themselves for all reporters and present themselves in a professional manner.

As a side note, male reporters are allowed into the locker rooms of the WNBA teams.

Male reporters are allowed in WNBA locker rooms. Either all reporters need to be allowed in locker rooms or none.

Preaching to the Choir ( http://rantsofapublicdefender.blogspot.com/ )

http://www.helloladies.com

Wow! A woman is allegedly harassed (I wasn't there so can’t answer your title question) and we are discussing her wardrobe or whether or not reporters should be in the locker room? These side conversations (which stink like justifications of bad behavior) deflect from the real issue. Women should not have to endure harassment at work. Period. People should not be harassed at work. Period. Clothes do not cause harassment. Harassers choose to harass. Whether or not this was the first time it happened to her and the fact you've heard worse on the streets of New Orleans, don’t make harassment okay either.

Sainz, by the way, didn’t file a complaint. Someone else did. And I don't blame her. Harassment is unpleasant enough. Who would want to then defend themselves before the court of public opinion that questions their clothes, their career, and their looks? And if they discuss the situation with the media then they need to be prepared to be called a gold-digger or a publicity hound.

Why don't we ask questions about the harassers instead of the harassed?

I keep thinking of what Chris Rock said in his act once about how women shouldn't wear a hooker uniform if they don't want to be perceived as such. It's the same as him (Chris Rock) wearing a police uniform. He is not a police and it would be unfair to dress as one.

I believe the attire was a bit inappropriate for a men's locker room. I also believe she could have waited outside of the locker room. I wouldn't want a man in the girl's locker room either.

That said, would you want your kid's teacher to dress in that outfit? No. That's why we have standards of appropriate dress for work. What she wears in her free time is her own business however.

I am a HUGE football fan, and I may be very unpopular in my opinion but, women do not belong in the men's locker room. Period.

Male reporters are not allowed in the women's locker room.

Did she ask for it? Probably not. And sexual harrassment is wrong no matter what, but let's not put ourselves in the line of fire and not expect to get burnt.

KT
www.Anauthenticlife.com ( http://www.Anauthenticlife.com )

Measuring an athlete's biceps, while not a task I would want, seems perfectly in line. They are being rewarded for their ability and physique.

I can not believe we are still critiquing women on the basis of dress. People should be taught to respect others, no matter what he or she chooses to wear.

You stated, "Perhaps the real question is if she was truly offended or if this is a publicity stunt." I say neither--as I understand it, it wasn't Sainz who complained. To me, the real issue is that the behavior in the locker room, aimed at Sainz, offended others who witnessed it.

That's still harassment--it creates what is known in the H.R. world as a "Hostile Work Environment". Cat-calls and misogynistic statements and actions impact more than just the target...they impact everyone around the target--male and female.

As a side note: no one seemed to be complaining about her sideline/locker room attire until this issue with the Jets came up.

~Margaret

Just Margaret ( http://maurhoffbarney.blogspot.com )

I'm thinking what she's wearing isn't that atypical for what she's trying to accomplish in her job. Which was precisely the point. She's a beautiful TV reporter - it's show business, folks.

Rather than saying that people are wrong to draw attention to her attire, or saying that her attire is inappropriate for serious journalists (or other professionals), I think we need to consider her purpose before passing judgment, yea or nay.

She has been seeking widespread publicity for a long time, and now she has it.

Mission accomplished.

The challenge with this is that many...especially in the entertainment industry...have an attractive and/or revealing wardrobe.

Not to mention our general public as a rule, now.

I'm against revealing the goods in public, whether at work or not, but of course that's never an excuse for others to treat one without respect.

This is an issue where the accountability lies with those who are not showing her kind respect.

One Friday night, I loaded up my life and headed out... ( http://isledance.blogspot.com )

1. The number of people who start out by saying "I don't think anyone should be harassed" then proceed to detail what Sainz was wearing.

2. The number of people who pretend that female sportscasters are the only ones hired for something other than their journalistic ability. Which Sportscaster U alum do you think will be hired first - Shaq or someone who's worked for years to hone his or her skills but doesn't have a ring? It's not right, but it's reality, probably more so in the broadcast medium than in print or online.

And I fail to see how Sainz hurts the credibility of female sports journalists any more than a bumbling ex-jock hurts the credibility of a man.

Double standard much? Yes, among those who insist that Sainz's errors, if there were any, reflect on her entire gender. It really plays to the old cliche, which I'd hoped we'd buried in the 80s, that women cover sports for reasons similar to the reasons Willie Sutton robbed banks: Because that's where the hunks are.

Debra Legg
9to5to9 ( http://debralegg.com/ )