When I was 15 I worked in a pizza place where my late 30s boss told me “you’re a little firecracker and one day, I’m gonna go pop in your pants! bahahaha” He brushed it off as a joke, of course. It wasn’t the only comment, but it’s the one I remember most. I was so uncomfortable. Since I was young and it was my first job, I had no clue what sexual harassment even was or that bosses couldn’t talk to you like that.
These anecdotes are important for all younger generations to hear (not just women). I wish I had known then to ask him to explain the joke or that it was harassment.
When I was a young teenager (13) I worked as a cashier at a grocery store. I was super young, sheltered, naive.
I would go to the “break room” on my lunch. This guy who worked in the deli followed me in one day. I’m sitting there drinking my soda and he starts kinda staring at me in a creepy way...then I hear bang, bang, bang under the table. I was very confused. I left because I couldn’t figure out what was happening but knew that I was creeped the fuck out.
I told my manager what happened and he said that he would talk to the guy but that I shouldn’t mention it to anyone else. I was like huh? I didn’t even really know what the guy had been doing. My sister filled me in when she picked me up from my shift.
I went home and told my mom who said, “well what do you expect wearing tight jeans out in public?” It wasn’t until I was in my twenties that l was like...no body called the cops? Fired this guy? My mom didn’t do shit? That’s fucked up!!!!
That’s how it was in the 80s and early 90s. You got harassed AND blamed and NOBODY protected you. It was always like...well, boys will be boys. I’m so proud of young women today for calling dudes out on shit. I didn’t learn that I even had that right until much later. Kinda sad.
Mrs_Muzzy on June 29th, 2020 at 16:48 UTC »
When I was 15 I worked in a pizza place where my late 30s boss told me “you’re a little firecracker and one day, I’m gonna go pop in your pants! bahahaha” He brushed it off as a joke, of course. It wasn’t the only comment, but it’s the one I remember most. I was so uncomfortable. Since I was young and it was my first job, I had no clue what sexual harassment even was or that bosses couldn’t talk to you like that.
These anecdotes are important for all younger generations to hear (not just women). I wish I had known then to ask him to explain the joke or that it was harassment.
ilikesteel on June 29th, 2020 at 19:41 UTC »
I was in high school and the male health teacher in his late 60's stopped the class to point out that one of the girls had a "very attractive voice."
I've never been so uncomfortable for a person in my life.
rainbeau44 on June 29th, 2020 at 20:08 UTC »
When I was a young teenager (13) I worked as a cashier at a grocery store. I was super young, sheltered, naive.
I would go to the “break room” on my lunch. This guy who worked in the deli followed me in one day. I’m sitting there drinking my soda and he starts kinda staring at me in a creepy way...then I hear bang, bang, bang under the table. I was very confused. I left because I couldn’t figure out what was happening but knew that I was creeped the fuck out.
I told my manager what happened and he said that he would talk to the guy but that I shouldn’t mention it to anyone else. I was like huh? I didn’t even really know what the guy had been doing. My sister filled me in when she picked me up from my shift.
I went home and told my mom who said, “well what do you expect wearing tight jeans out in public?” It wasn’t until I was in my twenties that l was like...no body called the cops? Fired this guy? My mom didn’t do shit? That’s fucked up!!!!
That’s how it was in the 80s and early 90s. You got harassed AND blamed and NOBODY protected you. It was always like...well, boys will be boys. I’m so proud of young women today for calling dudes out on shit. I didn’t learn that I even had that right until much later. Kinda sad.