Newsstand - Passenger: JetBlue Attendant Sexually Harassed Me

http://wcbstv.com/watercooler/jetblue.flight.attendant.2.830613.html

In an exclusive interview with CBS 2 HD, a New Jersey woman described her terrifying encounter in the sky. She said it happened on a JetBlue flight, and what was supposed to be a trip home from a fun visit with family instead turned into an ordeal.
She said it all started shortly after she boarded the plane. She said she has yet to recover.
Gina Rousett is still traumatized eight months after she says a JetBlue flight from Fort Lauderdale, Fla. to Newark turned into a nightmare.

Sorry, but I just don't get it. Why should someone come forward after several months and bring this up. Confront the Captain on landing in Newark. Had she have told me that she had been harassed I would have called the port authoriy police on the spot.If her story was true well this FA would be flipping burgers in the local jail. Again I think there may be much more to this story.

Sorry, but I just don't get it. Why should someone come forward after several months and bring this up. Confront the Captain on landing in Newark. Had she have told me that she had been harassed I would have called the port authoriy police on the spot.If her story was true well this FA would be flipping burgers in the local jail. Again I think there may be much more to this story.
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Exactly. I'm not defending the jerk that harassed her but her lack of urgency in reporting the matter indicates it really could not have "traumatized" her. I can't believe how stupid some people can be, no thought to just holding onto the cell phone and showing the captain upon leaving the airline, or asking for a supervisor upon landing. She was too passive, which indicates, again, she couldn't have been to bothered by anything.

She was too passive, which indicates, again, she couldn't have been to bothered by anything.

Or was in shock. People react differently to situations. Sometimes it takes time to process what has happened and react.

Plus, with our society's deification of flight crews and the ever present threat of a no-fly list for actually being right confronting a FA isn't on the top of most people's minds.

The fact that the guy admits to doing most of the things should be a decent indication that the woman isn't full of it.

Or was in shock. People react differently to situations. Sometimes it takes time to process what has happened and react.

Plus, with our society's deification of flight crews and the ever present threat of a no-fly list for actually being right confronting a FA isn't on the top of most people's minds.

The fact that the guy admits to doing most of the things should be a decent indication that the woman isn't full of it.


I agree with most of your post however as the Captain I'm not particularly concerned about a no fly list. Thankfully this guy no longer works for JetBlue. Had the lady complained to me I would have called the port authority and bluewatch immediately.

I'm with dietcoke on this one. Had a member of my crew sexually harassed a customer I would have asked for police to meet the aircraft. Any type of behaviour like that, customer or crewmember, wouldn't not be tolerated by me on an aircraft, I don't care if this is your sole source of income. We don't yet know why he was released from the company, past incidents? But thankfully he is gone.

Now I also think something is fishy about this story. Nobody else was around when this happened or came forward? Nobody else saw him "touching" himself or showing nude pictures? (Apparently he fessed up to the nude pictures so that lends some credence to the story). However why did it take 8 months to speak up? It wasn't as if he forcefully touched her or anything explicit like that. He showed her some pictures and alledgedly touched himself. Something tells me this lady has never watch cable TV in her entire life.

Geez, poor woman:

"I told him, 'You're disgusting. You know I'm married and I don't want any part of you,' but he kept going and going and going," Rousset said.

I'm not a woman, but wouldn't a scared scream had sufficed to get help? Just take his cellphone and scream... everything would have solved by itself...

It wasn't as if he forcefully touched her or anything explicit like that. He showed her some pictures and alledgedly touched himself.
Any contact is forceful in such a situation:
Frantic, she escaped to the bathroom. Rousett said he followed, making vulgar comments through the door. On her way back to her seat, she said Arokium grabbed her buttocks. (emphasis mine)

Something tells me this lady has never watch cable TV in her entire life.

Comments like this are why many people don't report sexual harassment.

[QUOTE
Comments like this are why many people don't report sexual harassment.[/QUOTE]

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With all due respect, I can't agree with you here. She's on a plane with at least 100 (?) other people and has the opportunity to get the attention of another flight attendant or other passengers around her by protesting loudly - for example "I don't know who you are, stop showing me your pornographic pictures and lewd gestures"......Even if she didn't do that, she still could have mentioned it to the captain or staff upon arrival.....Too passive and THAT IS WHY PEOPLE GET HARASSED, MOLESTED, OR WORSE.....there are times when one is cornered (i.e, alone on a dark street or in an elevator) and unfortunately may have to submit.....but on a plane - with many passengers and authority (FA's and other crew members) ??? C'mon.....she really doesn't have a clue or lives in a bubble or something.

Just adding......I don't mean submit willingly but cornered or life-threatening (knife to throat), etc. and that didn't happen here. The situation was somewhat controllable (outcome) by her and she did nothing during or after it. Sounds like a case of talking to a lot people way after the fact and then probably suggestions made that she sue Jet Blue. She'll probably win.

With all due respect, I can't agree with you here. She's on a plane with at least 100 (?) other people and has the opportunity to get the attention of another flight attendant or other passengers around her by protesting loudly - for example "I don't know who you are, stop showing me your pornographic pictures and lewd gestures"......Even if she didn't do that, she still could have mentioned it to the captain or staff upon arrival.....Too passive and THAT IS WHY PEOPLE GET HARASSED, MOLESTED, OR WORSE.....there are times when one is cornered (i.e, alone on a dark street or in an elevator) and unfortunately may have to submit.....but on a plane - with many passengers and authority (FA's and other crew members) ??? C'mon.....she really doesn't have a clue or lives in a bubble or something.

You have no idea how many other people were on the plane. There were apparently enough empty seats that there was no one else in her row, so it would seem that loads were light. Blaming her for not screaming at the time is ridiculous. But it is good to know that you will assume all responsibility for any crimes that are directed at you in the future, since it is the victim's fault for not protesting.

Yes, she could have screamed something or tried to protest at the time. But choosing not to should not be seen as an indication that at the time she was inviting the harassment or otherwise approved of it. Lots of people don't report sexual crimes immediately. After having been violated that way often there is some internal processing that has to happen before one can actually make the claim publicly. I cannot explain an 8 month wait, but that's what it was in this case.

And the guy has admitted to doing it.

I love how people here are posting that there must be something else going on and how she's a loon while ignoring the fact that the guy has admitted to doing most of what she has accused him of.

So she's not lying, but still she's to blame for the guy doing this somehow??? :confused:

I stand by my previous statement that comments like these are why sexual assaults don't get reported as much as they should.

SBM12, I could not agree more and thank you for posting it so well.

1. Passenger, in all likelihood, was mistreated.
2. Our system is crappy when the company has liability. The FA should be personally liable for their actions.
3. Passenger should be resilient and bounce back into life.
4. Potential problem for passengers is that we are helpless to fight back on a plane. We must remain meek. The FA can always get passengers arrested saying they are a security threat or disobeyed a command by cabin crew.

Fair settlement: FA is personally liable for any misconduct, passenger gets a few JetBlue credits (I don't think they have miles).

sbm12 has said everything I wanted to so thank you!^ If I was sexually harassed by an attendant, the captain would be the last person I would think of complaining to. Having law enforcement meet us at the gate, you bet, but as a pax I would expect the captain to stand up for the FA.

SBM12, I could not agree more and thank you for posting it so well.

I agree also. Shame on all of you "blame the victim" followers. God forbid it happens to your wife/daughter/sister.

Another thumbs up for SMB12. Just because she reacted passively doesn't mean she was not upset by the harassment. A passive individual is more likely to be intimidated and unsure about how to react.

I agree also. Shame on all of you "blame the victim" followers. God forbid it happens to your wife/daughter/sister.
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Who said anything about blaming the victim ?? Her row being empty (maybe?) has nothing to do with vocally objecting loudly to embarrass the harasser and letting the crime be witnessed by others. The victim is not being blamed here for the event that happened.......but to wait eight months to "react" is pretty questionable.
Making this statement in no way diminishes the sexual harassment or seriousness of the issue for the victim. I question the victim's delayed reaction because we live in a world where there is zero tolerance for sexual harassment and many avenues of recourse, yet she did nothing after it happened??? I already know that myself and female members of my family would have loudly objected and followed through immediately, no matter what degree of harassment. It would take a lot more than pornographic pictures or lewd behavior to traumatize me to fade into the wallpaper and do nothing about !!

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Who said anything about blaming the victim ?? Her row being empty (maybe?) has nothing to do with vocally objecting loudly to embarrass the harasser and letting the crime be witnessed by others. The victim is not being blamed here for the event that happened.......but to wait eight months to "react" is pretty questionable.
Making this statement in no way diminishes the sexual harassment or seriousness of the issue for the victim. I question the victim's delayed reaction because we live in a world where there is zero tolerance for sexual harassment and many avenues of recourse, yet she did nothing after it happened??? I already know that myself and female members of my family would have loudly objected and followed through immediately, no matter what degree of harassment. It would take a lot more than pornographic pictures or lewd behavior to traumatize me to fade into the wallpaper and do nothing about !!

Good for you! but you're not her.

The FA should be fired and probably plea to probation or community service.

The victim should have a low-5-figure settlement from JetBlue.

I should not be reading about this. It's not news.

The FA should be fired and probably plea to probation or community service.

The victim should have a low-5-figure settlement from JetBlue.

I should not be reading about this. It's not news.

The "victim" should have done something to give JetBlue the chance to react like addressing other crew-members or the authorities in a timely manner. She didnt so I dont see why JetBlue should be held liable here.

If at all then put the FA on trial !

Pretty dumb to blame the victim. These sort of incidents aren't as cut-and-dry as a robbery or assault. Not trying to claim I know how the victim felt, but I imagine that the emotions range from disbelief to embarrassment to anger and frustration.

And, yes, the airline is liable or should be liable. It hired the flight attendant; it was supposed to train the FA on proper conduct---I'm certain that, at a minimum, prevention of sexual harassment was one of the baseline topics addressed during initial training; and this incident occurred during a JetBlue flight as opposed to off-duty.

When I read this story I have to say it made me angry. I do not feel I am blaming the victim when I say she makes me furious as a woman. I resent women behaving as though they have no rights, no control, and are willing to behave as helpless victims. This woman, even a passive woman, could have quietly gone to the purser, could have at the very least said "please go away and stop doing that!" in a voice others could hear. She could have walked to another seat where other passengers would have made it impossible for him to continue without being obviously seen. I could write a book about all the things she COULD have done and did not do.
I'm very sorry, but unless it's job harrassment, I was taught that when someone offends you, you SAY STOP!!!!!!!!!!!
And if she is so afraid and so passive, why is she suing all this time later. She makes all women look weak, helpless and ridiculous.

When I read this story I have to say it made me angry. I do not feel I am blaming the victim when I say she makes me furious as a woman. I resent women behaving as though they have no rights, no control, and are willing to behave as helpless victims. This woman, even a passive woman, could have quietly gone to the purser, could have at the very least said "please go away and stop doing that!" in a voice others could hear. She could have walked to another seat where other passengers would have made it impossible for him to continue without being obviously seen. I could write a book about all the things she COULD have done and did not do.
I'm very sorry, but unless it's job harrassment, I was taught that when someone offends you, you SAY STOP!!!!!!!!!!!
And if she is so afraid and so passive, why is she suing all this time later. She makes all women look weak, helpless and ridiculous.

I've had plenty of experience advising subordinates/coworkers, investigating allegations of sexual harassment as well as disciplining those who violated policy preventing such practices.

I'm not a woman, so the best I can do is guess what this particular woman went through; although I can rely on my experiences speaking with women who suffered similar instances. The common theme appears to be that victims are reluctant because they feel they will be criticized for either not speaking up sooner, not taking more immediate steps or some of the other behaviors you pointed out (and I'm not picking on you). It seems that victims believe if they simply ignore the offender or refuse to acknowledge the overtures that the offender should pick up on it and leave them alone. The truth is that offenders need to be told in no uncertain terms to go do something to themselves that usually requires the participation of two consenting adults. And I think there's some self-doubt as to whether they miscommunicated with the offender by perhaps sending the wrong signal; perhaps it began as harmless flirting that soon became something else; there are many other variations.

It all boils down to this: the flight attendant was wrong to cross the line. I'm confident that JetBlue, just as any other major business enterprise, has specific guidelines regarding this sort of behavior that is covered during employee training.