Editor’s Note: Readers should be aware that this article has content pertaining to gender-based violence, including instances of sexual assault and harassment. If you identify as a survivor of gender-based violence and want to reach out for support, visit du.edu/CAPE for confidential resources and contact information. 

On Feb. 1, the New York Times grabbed the world’s attention and exposed Victoria’s Secret and its owners on sexual harassment allegations. Female models and executives at the company have reportedly faced “bullying and harassment for decades.” 

Most of the blame falls on two men at the top of the lingerie company, Leslie Wexner and L. Brands. They are the main targets of scrutiny because they turned a blind eye to the sexual misconduct within the company. When models were put into uncomfortable situations, they did not speak up in fear of losing their jobs. In one example, the former president and chief marketing officer, Ed Razek, asked models to “sit on his [Razek’s] lap and pose nude without pay” and attempted to kiss models on several occasions. He even went so far as touching a model’s crotch without her consent. 

It is not surprising that two men in leadership positions refused to act on behalf of their female employees and instead prioritized maintaining their company image. Addressing these issues would cause a scandal and plummeting profits. 

They tried to avoid this, but it happened anyway. Victoria’s Secret kept it hidden for so long that female models finally spoke out in solidarity with one another against the mistreatment. According to the Los Angeles Times, “In August, more than 100 models including Christy Turlington Burns and Edie Campbell signed an open letter to Victoria’s Secret CEO John Mehas calling for him to protect models against sexual harassment and assault.”

When Victoria’s Secret employees did speak out or stand up for themselves, they faced retaliation or the cold shoulder. In 2007, Razek reportedly invited model Andi Muise out to dinner and tried to kiss her without consent the whole night. He repeatedly emailed her, trying to get her to go on vacation with him in Turks or the Dominican Republic. He allegedly told her, “I need someplace sexy to take you.” After she declined an offer to dine alone with him at his home, she was not picked to be in the 2008 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show “for the first time in four years.”

This has been an ongoing pattern of mistreatment for employees. Most women were too scared to speak up, and the few that did were faced with a brick wall. 

It is completely inappropriate for a company reliant on women to treat them with anything less than equality. Just because it is the model’s job to wear lingerie does not mean she is inviting men to hit on her or allowing them to make a move. Modeling is a job—like any other, employers should treat their employees with respect.

Much of the hatred towards Razek and Wexner also comes from their relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. Epstein was infamously charged for sex trafficking and pedophilia. “Epstein once managed Wexner’s fortune, and allegedly posed as a sort of company scout in order to recruit aspiring models into his purported sex ring.” 

The Angels were living in hell, as they were put in constant danger by the heads of the company. Women in any workplace are always in danger of sexual misconduct but especially when they have male superiors. Gender should not be an invitation for mistreatment. The models from Victoria’s Secret were just trying to do their job. 

If you are experiencing any sort of sexual misconduct by an employer, please reach out to a person you trust or call the sexual harassment hotline at 800.656.HOPE. You are not alone.