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Steinem Sisters Collection Panel Discussion

On Drowning Rats by Rachel Richardson & Cami Roth Szirotnyak

Join authors Rachel Richardson and Cami Roth Szirotnyak as they discuss their book "On Drowning Rats: How Two Women Took Down a Sexual Harasser and How You Can Too."

Featuring On Drowning Rats by Rachel Richardson and Cami Roth Szirotnyak. Copies of the book will be available for purchase from the Friends of the Library at this event.

90% of people who experience sexual harassment in the workplace never report it.

When community advocates and writers Rachel Richardson and Cami Roth Szirotnyak were sexually harassed by the same man, they devised a plan to take down their harasser. With the help of female advisors, mentors, and a small but incredibly mighty following of supporters, they brought public disgrace for their harasser as well as inspired his eventual resignation. 

On Drowning Rats: How Two Women Took Down Their Harasser and How You Can Too demystifies what to do when you're sexually harassed at work or in the boardroom. Rachel and Cami discuss the personal and professional struggles they dealt with coming forward, the challenging conversations they had with their peers and family members, and the inevitable scrutiny from a community eager to keep the status quo. They deliver levity and humor alongside a well of compassion and righteous anger as a way to connect to the generations of women and people impacted by all forms of harassment.

Rachel Richardson is a veteran jazz and folk singer, guitarist, aspiring comedy writer with one short film under her belt, and a lifelong community activist. As a professional advocate for victims of domestic violence, she co-founded Independent Advocates in 2007, which produced a Court Watch Report in 2011 recommending a Domestic Violence Court in Lucas County. Rachel is a product of Toledo, Ohio.

Cami Roth Szirotnyak is a published writer, policy consultant, and life coach. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from Lourdes University, a Master of Arts in Public Policy and Administration from Northwestern University, a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt from Owens-Illinois, Inc., and a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Workplace Certificate from the University of South Florida Muma College of Business. In 2017, she was named a recipient of the region’s 20 Under 40 award for her public service and volunteerism around women’s empowerment and homelessness.

The Steinem Sisters Collection is a feminist collection that explores the lives and achievements of women. Created to honor Gloria Steinem, the collection champions the historical, cultural and political contribution of women; and strives to provide a welcoming space for women of all walks of life to share their truths. The types of materials we collect are first and foremost “feminist materials”- which are those materials that uphold women’s rights and interests in defining and promoting political, economic, personal and social equality of the sexes. This collection was made possible due to a generous donation by The Steinem’s Sisters Collective.