Michael Crichton’s 1994 novel, Disclosure, explores themes of sexual harassment and power dynamics in the then-burgeoning tech industry of the 1990s. The story centers on a computer executive who faces false accusations of sexual harassment from his new supervisor, a woman with whom he had a prior romantic relationship. The narrative inverts the typical gender roles associated with workplace harassment, presenting a scenario where a man is the victim of unwanted advances from a woman in a position of authority.
The novel’s release sparked significant controversy and debate surrounding workplace harassment, gender roles, and the complexities of power dynamics. It contributed to wider public discussions on these issues, prompting conversations about the nature of consent, the burden of proof, and the potential for misuse of harassment accusations. Disclosure also captured the zeitgeist of a rapidly changing technological landscape and its impact on interpersonal relationships, anxieties surrounding career advancement, and the evolving definitions of professional conduct. Its popularity reflected a growing public awareness and concern about sexual harassment in the workplace.
