Saturday, October 04, 2003 :::
sexual harrassment in my workplace
I, in fact, have been a victim of sexual harrassment. I'm not sure how it is for these other people, mostly women, who file suits and stuff, but for me it's not so difficult to deal with. It just so happens that I'm at work when I'm getting hit on, ya know?
I've been a girl my whole life, and while I'm not going to say I'm all that great, I am going to say that I don't feel I need to wear a paper bag over my head.
It's just something I've been thinking about - we're covering sexual harrassment in the workplace in my speech class.
I'm not saying that it's right, or that it's ok... just that it's something that happens everyday... just like I was at the mall or something. I know that I'll probably get slammed for saying this, and maybe there are women out there where their jobs have been in jeopardy so they feel pressured to do things... But I've never felt that way.
There have been a few times where it's gotten kind of old and it's like "Leave me alone you dirty old man."
But I've never felt that if I didn't oblige that I'd lose my job.
In fact, most of these people that have made "unwanted advances" have become friends of mine. Now I guess I shouldn't say friends, because I would testify agst any one of them if it ever came to it. Like a certain doctor said about me, "She's too opinionated anyway." If there's another girl out there who, for whatever reason, is unable to stand her ground, then I will do what I can, ya know?
It just seems so unreal... the whole concept of a superior imposing on a subordinant. lol. I should stop now because I think I just described the dominatrix fetish.
Yes, I know this isn't a laughing matter. And I'm not sure what got me thinking about this just now. Oh wait, I do remember. I was talking to a friend of mine up here earlier tonight and school came up. As you may or may not know I have 2 tests on Monday, and one of them is going to be a real killer. Now in high school there were 2 ways to do on a test. Either you raped it, or it raped you. That's just an expression I'm used to hearing and saying (and I guess I got myself into this kind of uncomfortable situation). When my friend asked about these tests I said it was going to rape me. Now I'm not sure what this counts as, but I do know it made me feel a little uncomfortable. He came back with, "Lucky test." Now this friend and I have had our occasional run-ins with these things, seeing as how when I first started working here there was a pool as to who would get me to go out with them first... and it did stretch beyond my unit, beyond my department, even beyond my shift. Yes, apparently I was in high demand. *rolling eyes* So I was like, "Geez friend how is it that you and I never hooked up? Oh yes, it must have been for your awesome intelect and daring wit."
Last Halloween I dressed up as The Crow, and came by the hospital to give my sister something, so I showed up dressed but not yet painted. I was wearing black leather pants and this fitted black shirt that I had cut tears into over the bodice and arms... and my hair was wet and hung about... And this was back before I was whaling. Yes and for some reason he was talking to me, and was saying that the way I was looking made him need a cigarette. I pulled out my lighter and threw it at him and said, "Smoke it, Bitch." Word kind of got around about that and he's not real fond of the topic.
So then just earlier tonight I grabbed a lighter out of my bag and kinda echoed my words.
*shrug*
I dunno... I kinda have a short temper, and I was so close to just kicking him in the face.
And just because this happened at work I could sue him and my employer and loads of other people.... So like I was saying, it just happens to be at work.
*grr*
**UPDATE**
I've gotten some emails and while I do appreciate you responding... post some comments so those of you who do read this can see what others are saying!
And yes, I do admit that it may have been that my friend was just complimenting me, but it still made me uncomfortable. And since that's all that's needed (plus documentation, of course) to file a suit that's what I was talking about.
Thanks again for your responses!
::: posted by tinafish at 5:13 AM :::