Governor Cuomo’s “informal sexism” hinders equality for all, says the creator

Author Joanne Lipman said the behavior toward women recently reported by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo feeds into institutional sexism, exacerbating the huge disparities in pay, promotion, and opportunities.

“If we marginalize them [women]”We don’t value them that much,” Lipman said on CNBC’s The News with Shepard Smith. ” If we don’t value them that much, we don’t pay them that much or sponsor them that much, or give them the mentorship, and it all feeds into this ongoing institutional sexism that has really prevented us from taking the steps that we’ve had to do since the #MeToo movement. “

Pressure is mounting on Cuomo to resign after a third woman accused him of undesirable advances.

Lipman, who wrote, “That’s what she said: What men need to know (and women need to tell them) how to work together,” explained Shepard Smith that while Cuomo’s actions might not have been physical abuse, his “occasional sexism” hinders Equality for all.

“If there are people like Cuomo – people in high positions – who are talking a really good game about women’s equality and black equality, but then you have these actions that kind of oppose that really, really diminish the words that they say. And it really harms the cause of equality for all of us, “Lipman said.

The third woman, Anna Ruch, said she met Cuomo at a wedding in 2019 where he put his hand on her lower back, put his hands on her cheeks and asked if he could kiss her, according to the New York Times. Cuomo did not comment on the allegation.

The White House confirmed Tuesday that Ruch was working on the Biden campaign as an organizer in southwest Florida.

“I can definitely speak on behalf of the President and the Vice-President, and I want to reiterate that they both believe that any woman who speaks up should be heard and treated with dignity and respect,” said Jen Psaki, White House Press Secretary.

Ruch didn’t work for Cuomo, but the other two women, Lindsey Boylan and Charlotte Bennett, are former aides who both alleged sexual harassment. Cuomo immediately denied Boylan’s claim. He also denied Bennett’s allegations, saying his words had been “misinterpreted”.

Lipman stated that since the #MeToo movement, society has had a much greater awareness of what constitutes inappropriate behavior and is therefore more likely to exclaim it.

“I mean, in the three years since the #MeToo movement started, we know the rules of the road and it makes so many women so angry that this type of behavior continues,” Lipman said.

New York attorney general Letitia James opened an investigation against Cuomo on Monday as demands for his resignation from his own party grew.

US Representative Kathleen Rice, D-Long Island, was the first Democrat to urge Cuomo to resign via Twitter on Monday evening. Six Democratic Senate and New York State Assembly legislators released a statement Tuesday calling for charges against Cuomo.