SEX FIENDS IN SUITS - ANANALYSIS

The report’s attitude to the subject of sexual harassment can be described in a number of ways. The report tries to be very objective about the topic and not make any value judgments about the topic. Yet, Murphy still betrays his own stance clearly.

The general attitude of the report is that sexual harassment is to be treated lightly in the moral sense but not in the financial arena. It is becoming a money making industry for the women, law firms and several equal opportunity commision officers who are involved as indicated in the article. It is simply a management issue , not a moral one.

This lighthearted approach is expressed quite clearly through the selection of detail, structure and language of the article.

Selection of Detail

Sources of information used

• quotes from a strong woman who sees men as blokes and unable to control themselves who must nevertheless think about the issue in terms of "productivity" and what is best for the company.
• well-publisised cases all present women who are making a great deal of money out of their claims. The final case deals with the very large sum of $9.5 million and sticks in the mind because it is last on the list and it was received for being simply ’touched’ . We get the impression that the author would find this silly because earlier he stated that a woman got $120,000 for being assaulted, abused and abducted. It seems he is trying to show that it is all getting out of hand
• using evidence which makes the increase in sexual harassment claims seem slightly bogus. - 1984, 1988, 1990, 1994, - you will note that the quoted cases generally appear after 1990 and so seem typical of when " the complaint rate began to rise ‘.
• referring to john Howard making complainants pay their own legal costs because the governement is having to spend too much money also renders the whole topic comical.
• he makes sure he mentions that complaints have also risen against doctors . It Would seem that he is highlighting that women are accusing all those who represent the ‘pillars in our society’.

Language

• slightly tongue in cheek, especially in final three paragraphs where it reads like a story - a soap opera. " While Australian trade unions…. Meanwhile , While…
• sarcastically he states that business and the professions "lagged behind" in responding to the issue and in stating that people believe John Howard will have to make people pay their own legal costs. This is funny on two levels . (1) Murphy is having a go at Howard and his policy to raise taxes.( 2 ) He is also implying that these women will make him pay up big if he doesn’t stop them.
• ‘ Sex Fiends in Suits " . Displays his love for alliteration and poetic techniques. This writer is more interested in making an impression than exploring a very serious issue. He doesn’t think it is serious.
• Harassment is ‘alive and kicking’ - colloquial
• There have been a ‘rash of cases’ - rash - disease, no good that people have complained
• "breed ‘ of conciliators has arisen because there has been a rise in complaints
• ‘complaint rate’ - trivialises the seriousness of the issue again. It can be defined by using scientific and monetary terms. ( rate )
• He states the women were " driven off " . this is used to describe a physical removing of the girls which of course didn’t happen. He is making fun of the girls’ claim that they were ‘driven off’.

Structure

• pictures are quite revealing. Given that the attitude of the article is that harassment is more a business event than moral etc, and that it is to be treated lightheartedly, the pictures remind us that Murphy doesnot see women as innocent victims but very strong minded. Demi Moore is pictured that way and Moira Rayner is smiling , is intelligent and is quoted again in the caaption under her picture stating that " harassment is an issue for management " not a moral one.
• " Yes, you can breathe but…" presents women as very demanding . Even though the demands are not comical in themeselves, the tone of the insert is comical because of the words" yes , you can breathe but….." . It also makes women seem paranoid as if they believe the only civil thing men do is ‘ breathe’ . Anything else they might do is bound to be wrong. Murphy seems to be making fun of this too. Clearly, Murphy’s dominant ideology is that women have taken the sexual harassment issue too far and that the stereotype of the dangerous woman , as portrayed by Demi Moore is perhaps not that silly to believe.

All the above is not difficult to appreciate if we understand who the target audience is of " The Bulletin"—business men rather than women who would appreciate his tongue in cheek humour and sarcasm. Men can’t do any real wrong . They are just giving an ‘ office joke ‘. He is also foremost a writer who needs to entertain . In this case he is entertaining by providing a conflict - between men and women, big businesses and law firms and the compalainant and John Howard.