So, have you heard the latest from Uber? Apparently, when it comes to dealing with sexual assault lawsuits, the ride-hailing giant has a rather interesting approach. Instead of focusing on the serious issues at hand, they’ve decided to channel their inner fashion police with the question, ‘What were you wearing?’ Yes, you read that right. Forget about the trauma and the violation of trust—let’s just focus on the outfit!
“Were you wearing heels or boots or flats?” · Ms. Silverberg also probed Ms. Doe’s childhood, asking if she had felt abandoned by her father or degraded by her mother. Examples from depositions in four different cases: Q: Do you know if you had the bikini on at that time? … A: Um, the planned outfit was joggers. But I don’t remember the top. I do remember the sneakers because the police took them away, and I really liked them.
Now, before you roll your eyes so hard they might get stuck, let’s break this down. Uber has promised to handle legal claims ‘in a way that is best for the survivor.’ That sounds noble, right? Almost like a superhero slogan! But then, their lawyers took a turn down a rather aggressive path that makes you wonder if they’ve been taking lessons from the worst kind of high school debate team.
Instead of providing support and understanding to those who have experienced assault, they’re opting for a strategy that seems to suggest that the victim’s attire plays a role in the situation. Because, obviously, nothing says ‘supporting survivors’ like questioning their clothing choices. It’s almost like they’re trying to win a case based on who wore it best at the Met Gala instead of addressing the real issues.
Let’s be honest, it’s 2023, and we should be way past the point of blaming victims based on what they were wearing. The only thing that should matter is that someone has been hurt and needs help. But here we are, with Uber’s legal team apparently thinking they’re on an episode of a courtroom drama rather than dealing with serious allegations.
And can we talk about the optics of this for a moment? Imagine being a survivor, bravely coming forward, only to have your experience reduced to a fashion critique. It’s like bringing a salad to a barbecue and having someone ask if you used organic lettuce. Spoiler alert: it doesn’t matter!
This strategy raises some serious questions about the culture at Uber and how they view the responsibility that comes with providing a service to millions. Are they attempting to shift the narrative away from accountability by playing the blame game? Are they hoping that by questioning the attire, they can distract from the real issues at stake? If so, it’s a pretty bold (and misguided) move.
In a world where we should be building platforms for survivors to feel safe and supported, Uber seems to be taking a giant step back. It’s like they’ve taken a page from an outdated playbook that should have been tossed in the recycling bin long ago.
So, what’s the takeaway here? Perhaps it’s time for Uber to rethink their legal strategies and invest in some actual survivor support training rather than turning to the courtroom equivalent of a fashion faux pas. Because at the end of the day, no one should ever have to justify their experience based on what they were wearing.
Here’s hoping Uber gets their act together and realizes that it’s time to stop playing dress-up with serious issues. Let’s focus on supporting survivors instead of throwing shade on their wardrobe choices. After all, no one should have to deal with this nonsense when they’re already facing something so serious.
Inspired by: “Uber’s strategy for fighting sexual assault suits: ‘What were you wearing?’ — The ride-hailing gian…” (r/technology)