This must have been the toughest job interview anyone has ever had to undergo in the world. Brett Kavanaugh, US President Donald Trump’s pick for the Supreme Court had to go through a gruelling Senate confirmation hearings, all aired in public, to prove that the sexual misconduct allegations against him were wrong.

The world watched as a dignified Christine Blasey Ford, a research psychologist, testified about an assault by Kavanaugh 36 years ago that left her traumatised and changed her life.

Told with quiet conviction, Ford’s testimony was polite and she cut a brave figure as she attempted to answer every question posed to her. By contrast, Kavanaugh gave a jarring performance as an angry, hurt man as he loudly blustered his way past questions, vehemently denying all the allegations.

And yet, when it came to the acid test, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted 11:10 in favour of Kavanaugh, admittedly on the back of strong Republican support. Though a last minute conscience call from Arizona senator Jeff Flake has meant that Kavanaugh is not yet through, but will be subject to a week of FBI background checking before the vote is cast again.

President Trump’s reaction was to treat the FBI investigation as a minor hiccup and he appeared confident his nominee would sail through. Were the Senate hearings a big sham then? The very fact that so many of the senators were unmoved by Ford’s testimony and willing to vote in favour of Kavanaugh seems to suggest so. Although their logic of lack of corroboration to Ford’s story is tenable, it still shows a mindset of male consensus.

How often have we seen this kind of scene play out in the corporate sector?

Yet, in a sense, whatever the outcome of the final vote a week later, there is some consolation to be had. That women have come so far as to get heard and make an impact. There may yet come a time soon when they can swing the vote.

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