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Joe Biden's 'Good Intentions' Don't Excuse His Misconduct

The offensive behaviour of powerful men is about much more than innocent hugs gone awry.
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Former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden speaks during the first State Democratic dinner in Dover, Del., on March 16, 2019.
Michelle Gustafson/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden speaks during the first State Democratic dinner in Dover, Del., on March 16, 2019.

The response is predictable. When an allegation of sexual misconduct is raised, the powerful man assures everyone that it was not his intention to cause harm. The logic, and I use that term generously, goes that since there was no ill intent, there is no fault.

We heard that line recently in connection with allegations by former Nevada state representative Lucy Flores against Joe Biden, who was then vice president of the United States. Ms. Flores reported that Biden approached her from behind and placed his hands on her shoulders at a 2014 political rally. He then leaned into her, smelled her hair and slowly kissed the top of her head. In a statement, Biden said it was never his intention to act inappropriately. Ms. Flores has left no doubt about how demeaned she felt by the incident. Other women have since come forward complaining about similar inappropriate physical contact by Biden.

Social norms are changing. I understand that, and I've heard what these women are saying. Politics to me has always been about making connections, but I will be more mindful about respecting personal space in the future. That's my responsibility and I will meet it. pic.twitter.com/Ya2mf5ODts

β€” Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) April 3, 2019

Days after the allegations were made, Biden assured America that he gets it. But he clearly does not, or he would have offered an apology for the discomfort women say he caused them. In fact, he doubled down on the non-apology, boasting, "I'm not sorry for anything I have ever done."

When entitlement erases the victim

Biden's actions confirm a long-held view: powerful men think it is about them. Their egos will not permit anything less. The impact their actions have is of minor concern. However, it is always the impact of these acts on the victim-recipient that ought to concern us. A lot has to change before that message sinks in.

Looking at the convergence of victim-fears, bystander blindness and accommodations given by the loyal to the powerful in our society β€” and to powerful men acting inappropriately β€” it is not surprising that nobody said anything at the time to call out the actions of a commanding political figure. Think about how Jane Fonda stayed silent about Harvey Weinstein, or an entire political party turned a blind eye to the sexploits of Bill Clinton.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau addresses a press conference at the conclusion of the G7 summit in La Malbaie, Quebec, June 9, 2018.
LARS HAGBERG/AFP/Getty Images
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau addresses a press conference at the conclusion of the G7 summit in La Malbaie, Quebec, June 9, 2018.

In a way, Biden's explanation echoed Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's last summer, when it was revealed that he had groped a woman back in 2000. Her account spoke to the inappropriate nature of the contact and about being "blatantly disrespected." His version talked about the different perceptions men and women can have of the same event. He said he had a "good time" that day. She clearly did not, and Trudeau should have known it.

The offensive behaviour of Biden and others at the top is about much more than innocent intentions gone awry. It is about powerful men acting in inappropriate ways toward women because they think they are entitled to.

The culture of many organizations is dedicated to glorifying the men at the top. They get used to people wanting to please them and this colours their expectations of others. The asymmetrical power relationship between the perpetrator and the victim magnifies that sense of entitlement and removes the social tripwires that otherwise preserve normal workplace conventions.

The complicity machine

When a man β€” especially one in a position of authority β€” demeans and disrespects a woman, whether by words or deeds, he takes something from her that does not belong to him: her dignity. At the very least, an apology is necessary to restore what was stolen.

In these relationships, powerful men are empowered in their bad actions. They know that those less powerful are unlikely to blow the whistle or report them out of fear for their job and career. They may control the processes and outcomes in their organizations, and can feel confident that if a less-powerful woman reports offensive behaviours, there's a good chance she will not be believed. Maybe she can even be silenced. The most infamous example of that was the Harvey Weinstein complicity machine.

Victim exploitation by the powerful moves down, not up, the organization hierarchy. How often have you heard of a CEO sexually harassing a female member of the company's board? Or a junior lecturer inappropriately kissing a tenured professor? It's unlikely you have.

Harvey Weinstein arrives at New York State Supreme Court on October 11, 2018 in New York City.
Stephanie Keith via Getty Images
Harvey Weinstein arrives at New York State Supreme Court on October 11, 2018 in New York City.

And it can get worse. There is a whole institutional culture of deferment and accommodation that is more than willing to assist in this entitlement delusion and even weaponize the power of the organization against those who have blown the whistle. It happens often to both whistleblowers and to victims of sexual misconduct who speak out.

Outside investigators retained to look at a plethora of sexual misconduct allegations at broadcaster CBS found "(w)hen faced with instances of wrongdoing, the company had a tendency to protect itself, at the expense of victims," according to the New York Times.

There's even a clinical term used to capture the willingness of some organizations to go to great lengths to defend perpetrators at the top, and make victims pay for pushing back β€” "institutional betrayal." It's a very powerful lens through which the whole panorama of sexual misconduct can be viewed. In the sexual misconduct train wrecks that have upended the lives and careers of victims, too often the retaliating organization has been found behind the controls.

When it comes to powerful men interacting with women, whether in the political arena, in the workplace or on campus, we all need to seriously adjust our social algorithms. It's not about intention. We must not let miscreants go there. Ever. It's about power and the men who have it who think they can get away with their misdeeds because of it. And it's about the enablers and facilitators around them β€” often including women β€” who are happy to drive the getaway car when the boss puts his hands where they don't belong.

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