Since the first allegations against Harvey Weinstein came out in October, the list of prominent men accused of sexual harassment and abuse continue to grow steadily. Just today, NBC’s Matt Lauer was fired from "Today" and public radio legend Garrison Keillor was fired from Minnesota Public Radio for inappropriate behavior.
These scandals have forced the country to participate in a conversation about the culture of systemic abuse women are subjected to in the workplace. As more stories of abuse continue to illuminate the misconduct exhibited by men in power, one must ask what can we do to ensure this damaging behavior stops.
Harvey Weinstein and Kevin Spacey, men with a significantly long list of accusers, have both gone to Gentle Path at The Meadows, a sex addiction rehab facility in Wickenburg, Arizona, for therapy. Art Caplan, director of the Division of Medical Ethics at NYU Langone Medical Center, told Boston Public Radio Wednesday that therapy will not stop ongoing patterns of sexual abuse.
“I have seen Harvey and others say they are going out for treatment,” said Caplan. “There is no treatment… we don’t really know how to do therapy for this kind of behavior. I’m not sure this kind of behavior is a disease in a matter of fact.”
Caplan believes the only way to stop men who are sexually abusing women is to remove them from positions of power. “The penalty isn’t just public shaming, it is taking away the leverage of being in a lofty position of controlling the fate of others, that sort of thing.”
Click above to hear the full interview with the Director of the Division of Medical Ethics at NYU Langone Medical Center Art Caplan.
