I was elected to the Senate in 1992. It was known as “the year of the woman.” Some of my younger colleagues may not know the full context of that election. But for me, the Anita Hill hearings of 1991 are etched in my memory.

I remember a Senate Judiciary Committee ― as a matter of fact, I was watching the hearing from an airport in London and I looked at the committee as it was panned, and there was not a single woman.

I remember how they questioned her claims of workplace harassment. I remember thinking how a woman would never belittle someone who was brave enough to step forward and testify like Anita Hill did. It was a shameful episode in the Senate.