De Vries sat down with Antoinnette Scheulderman, Roos Moggré, Merel Westrik and Siham Raijoul, all of whom have experience with undesirable behavior in the workplace. “It is always said: women open your mouth,” said De Vries. “But nothing happens to it. I sometimes thought: if only I hadn’t said anything, I might have stayed. I think I would have had a completely different career if I had been listened to.”
De Vries says she has had many positive reactions to her column. She heard from men: “Only now do I understand what is happening. Only now do I understand the effect of not reporting.”
No names
Marijn de Vries has not disclosed the name of the colleague she writes about in her column: “It’s not about him, it’s about doing something with a report. I blame the managers in particular.” Roos Moggré: “Complaints have been received for years and nothing has ever been done about it.”
Moggré worked at the Jeugdjournaal and has experience with NOS Sport. “We preferred not to go to that floor. It was not a pleasant place for a woman to be. There were men of whom I thought: I would rather not meet them … But I never thought: I will report this.
Merel Westrik also believes that the editors-in-chief, the organization, have not acted properly. “If someone makes a report, you have to turn things upside down. Then you have to be transparent.”
Solution
What should be done differently, Jinek asked at the end of the conversation. Siham Raijoul, former colleague of Moggré at the Youth News: Support each other, stand up for each other. Be the voice that someone else cannot be.” De Vries: “The solution is very simple. I say: what you are doing is not okay with me. And you say sorry.”
