Lois's Story (A Landmark Case That Changed U.S. Sexual Harassment Legislation)

Author: Clara Bingham et al. (USA), translated by Ji Jianwen
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-09-01
Features: This book tells us that for marginalized groups in society to protect their interests and dignity, they must undergo arduous efforts. Yet, history is rewritten and society progresses precisely because of such efforts. — Li Yinhang, sociologist
A true story. A woman's story. A story from the bottom rung of society. One of many stories unknown to outsiders, and many more left untold. So and painful, yet captivating. Like a novel with twists and turns, with a bright turn at the end, yet it is a — it happened, and it continues to happen. Perhaps, this is also a story about action and courage. Stand up, resist, speak. Silence should end. — Dai Jinhua, scholar
The story takes place in 1975. Lois Jansen, a young, attractive single mother living on welfare, came to Minnesota's cold northern region, the Eveleth Iron Company, to work for a living. From then on, she entered a perilous environment dominated by men, where she and her female colleagues faced constant sexual harassment every day—shocking acts such as lewd jokes, sex toys, and vulgar language. Until one day in 1984, Lois bravely decided to file a lawsuit against the company, which had a indifferent attitude toward sexual harassment. From the first submission of the lawsuit to the three exhausting trials that left her drained, the resilient Lois, with compelling evidence, the foresighted and dedicated work of her legal team, and the solidarity of the female workers, ultimately won the case after fifteen years. This was the first group sexual harassment lawsuit in U.S. history, and also one of the most difficult. Today in the United States, almost all companies and educational organizations have established strict anti-sexual harassment policies. This change is largely due to Lois's initial decision and the precedent set by this case.
Authors Clara Bingham and Laura Lydi Gansler, with the keen insight of journalists and the rigor of lawyers, the story with plain language, thorough research, and a gripping narrative, perfectly capturing the evolution of attitudes toward "sexual harassment" in American society, the courts, the government, the victims, the companies, and the lawyers representing different interests.