Lawyer Camilo Salas was found guilty of professional misconduct and ordered to pay $1,000 after he suggested that a female colleague was going through menopause during a deposition with more than a dozen other lawyers.
Despite Salas arguing that he truly cared for his female peer Dora Monserrate-Peñagarícano’s health when he made his comment, District Judge Francisco Besosa saw the incident as a way for him to undermine Monserrate-Peñagarícano’s authority and make implications about her mental state and overall wellbeing in front of fellow professionals. Instead, Besosa argued, Salas could’ve (and should’ve) asked Monserrate-Peñagarícano about her health in private if he was concerned.
“Discriminatory comments like this undoubtedly occur on a daily basis in the legal profession and are routinely swept under the rug,” said Besosa.
The sooner more people stand up during incidents of sexism in the workplace, the easier it will be for those affected to come forward and feel supported.
You can read more the story here.
Cover image courtesy of Shutterstock.
comments