Women are finally speaking up for themselves; not for imagined "sleights" of language, but against "real abuse" in the workplace, or the classroom, or relations with the same or the opposite sex. I have had to ask intrusive questions of women in my role as theatre director -- sometimes asking if the performer could or would be willing to do certain things onstage as an integral part of a production. As an actor I have also been asked such questions and have acted in nude roles, gay roles, straight roles etc. Again, not at all unusual.
More recently I have been forced to ask "invasive questions" of problematic grant candidates (for scholarships and/or continuing grants) dealing with family, ethnicity, religion, and sexual situations. I have always warned candidates that such questions were necessary and could be refused if the candidate wished. In a thirty year career of giving or coordinating grants and scholarships I have never had a person refuse to talk about his/her life. One unfortunate person descried the questions after the fact, and then left the scholarship "on the table" out of ignorance and pretended shame. The unusual family complications of this candidate caused her strange "and delusional" claims and behaviors.
Sometimes human beings are so far out of the mainstream that the cannot be counted on to use a grant well. This happens with scheming or ignorant students and even more often with cleverly manipulative professionals. I have always done my job as investigator with respect and within civilized parameters.
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