Fisherman Sisilie Skagen (29) from Andenes in Vesterålen has been at sea for several years, and is one of the few women who have this profession as a full-time job. She believes it is important to distinguish between harassment and humour. – I think it’s a very fine distinction. But one has to see a little between the lines between joking about hail and taking a dance. Earlier this week, news told about Svein Magne Mienna, who was fined NOK 12,000 for harassing two female fisheries inspectors. And according to the verdict, Mienna said, among other things, that the fisheries inspectors should jump on board the fishing boat that was lying at the quay, and contribute to better catches. Here the court believes that Mienna alluded to the myth of “haill”. – Maybe it’s not that hard, and maybe it’s a bit of a hair loss. One must be open to things that have always been humour, says Skagen. – It is common for men to joke with women – They were at work for the Directorate of Fisheries. If they had been men at work, would they have received the same comments? – Probably not, says Skagen. – Is it okay then? – No, but at the same time it is common for men to joke with women, as it has always been. She says that if you don’t get the joke, it’s possible to say that it’s not right. – As a rule, I find that people respect it, understand the seriousness and stop it. Hopes the verdict will come to the Supreme Court On the other hand, fisherman Susanne Mortensen (25) agrees with the verdict, and at the same time hopes that it will come completely to the Supreme Court. – A legally binding judgment from the Supreme Court will say something about where the line is drawn. Then we get something tangible to deal with. In a chronicle on news Ytring, Mortensen told about a case where she was called both a whore and a “fat woman” on a fishing boat. A process began where several organizations in the fishing industry agreed on a course program to prevent sexual harassment. Fisherman Susanne Mortensen from Tromsø is now on maternity leave, and has not decided whether she wants to return to the fishing boat. Photo: Privat She does not think this case would have even reached a verdict without the process she helped start. – I don’t think the Directorate of Fisheries would have taken this case to court a few years ago. Now they want to set an example, and I think that is very good. Always a rough language Lawyer Kjetil H. Nilsen was Mienna’s defender in court. He believes that the threshold for infringement has shifted considerably in recent years. – I think you should have respect for public servants, but then there must also be some room for jokes and fun, without the need to interpret everything in the worst possible way, he says. Defender Kjetil H. Nilsen says the line of offense has moved considerably in recent years Photo: Jan Harald Tomassen On the quay and in the fishing boat there has always been a rough jargon, Nilsen believes. – They have a slightly rougher language and they have a slightly rougher tone of voice than is common in society, says Nilsen. – Do you think it is appropriate to hint at female inspectors who are on the quayside to do a job? – The context here is important. I can’t imagine that this haill term has been used seriously during the last two hundred years. A joke is a joke, and it must be up to each individual whether they feel offended or not, says Nilsen. – Is it a social problem Director of the Directorate of Fisheries, Frank Bakke-Jensen, is clear that this jargon does not fit into today’s working life. – This is a societal problem. But it is changing, and then we also have to follow suit. It should be good to go to work, even here in the Directorate of Fisheries, says Bakke-Jensen. Section head Daniel Gusfre Ims in the Language Council does not wish to comment on whether the judgment from the Vestre Finnmark District Court was correct. But he says that society in general is more aware of how people talk to each other now than a few years ago. – The Metoo debate has probably changed the way we talk to each other. You can also say that you become aware of the problem in a different way when women enter the workplace. Section manager in the Language Council, Daniel Gusfre Ims, says the Metoo debate has probably changed the way we talk to each other. Photo: Moment Studio Draw the Nordic card Several times, Nordics have been acquitted in court for calling the police in Northern Norway, for example, “horse poop”. In these cases, the majority in court has held that this type of expression is commonplace and had to be punished by the police. The linguist probably believes that to a certain extent one can still pull the Nordic card. – Both words and expressions must be interpreted in a context. This also applies to banning. But both court cases and the fact that such cases are discussed in the media influence the social debate and create attention around these issues, says Ims. That such matters receive attention leads to less sexual harassment and safer workplaces for women at sea. Equality and discrimination ombudsman Bjørn Erik Thon thinks so. – We think it is good that such cases come to light and that the employer reports to the police. It is useful and good that there is a judgment. The equality and discrimination ombudsman, Bjørn Erik Thon, believes the judgment is important. Photo: Thomas B Eckhoff
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Divided opinions on “hail-dom” – news Nordland
