Complicit: How Our Culture Enables Misbehaving Men

Summary

Part cultural study, part call to action, this thoroughly researched and deeply personal examination of white-collar work in America’s hyper-individualistic, patriarchal society will change the way you think about sexual misconduct and workplace abuse.

When Reah Bravo began working at the Charlie Rose show, she wasn’t deterred by the open secret of Rose’s misbehavior toward his female staff. Believing herself capable of handling anything unprofessional that might come her way, she soon learned a devastating truth: we don’t always react to abusive situations as we imagine we would. In fact, today she considers herself both a victim and an enabler of Rose.

Weaving her own experience with that of other women and insights from experts, Bravo reveals the psychological and social forces that make us all enablers of a dangerous, sexist status quo—regardless of our good intentions or feminist ideals.

Complicit shows that the path to a better, more equitable society begins with cultivating the self-awareness and mindfulness necessary to act against our cultural conditioning.