My friend and I were in town today in Bristol after we went to Mass at the University Catholic Chaplaincy. It felt good going to mass. Anyroad, we then decided to go random pub/bar for coffe/hot chocolate. On our way there, we walked past the Waterfront. The Waterfront in Bristol is this street filled with bars and clubs by this river. We were literally minding out own business, catching jokes etc when this group of men start heckling at us.
One of the men said (and I paraphrase as he sounded drunk), “if you are mother and daughter, I’d shag you both”
We just ignored it of course.
What possesses some men to literally heckle and gawk at women they don’t fucking know as if they are in the bloody zoo ? How dare you talk in such an inappropriate manner ?
It does not make any sense to me or my friend. I was thinking if one of them had attempted to touch us, then it would have gotten very bad because I don’t give a fuck who you are, if you touch me or my friend and you are NOT my boyfriend, I will take matters into my own hands and that includes involving any authorities who deal with men who harrass women.
What happened today is one of the worst examples of verbal harrassment directed to me from men. I know a lot worse can happen especially since many women are sexually assaulted but I am not comparing sexual assault to verbal harrassment.
All women have the inherent right to walk around in a town/city without being heckled and having to endure hearing lewd sexual innuendos. That boys will be boys rubbish does not wash with me, quite frankly.
Why does sexual harassment seem to take place in the workplace? I suppose this is the question whose answer would help many people. My take on it is the workplace is essentially a forum where power hierarchies are created, regardless of what job you do. Every job has a foodchain and within that foodchain, there will always be people who bully and harrass others to keep them down. What are your thoughts ?
Please read the link to the following story about sexual harassment in a law firm in Florida. It is shocking and deeply disturbing. Here are a few excerpts of what was experienced by some of the women:
I called (a male associate at the firm) … to see if he could help me find a roommate. He offered me a room in his 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom house … Doug Wright became merciless in teasing me about it. He would ask or say things like: “Did you know (he) has a camera in your shower? Did you know (he) lays in your bed? Did you know (he) puts your panties on his head? … What does (he) look like in boxers? …
Doug Wright probably asked me to feel his “guns” about 4 or 5 times. Recently … Doug Wright ordered me to fix his tie in front of (another male lawyer). … … By July of 2002, I became desperate to move (my office) …
I am beyond appalled at how these women have been harassed by this evil, hurtful man. Unfortunately, this story is not isolated. What are all your thoughts ? The fact that one of the accusers wanted to move into a different office to get away from this horrible man is proof that he was a malicious sexual harasser.
The head of the law firm then noted:
Therefore, I accept and will implement each of the (committee’s) recommended sanctions as set forth in the Report, except the two that would bar (Wright) from participation in summer associate and associate hiring …
WHAT THE HELL ? The man who harassed those women still gets to be involved in hiring associates, some of whom would be women. Would he harass them in the bloody interviews ? What a scandal. The women thus replied:
The message that you have sent us by your memorandum is that cruel behavior is tolerated, so long as the perpetrator is in a position of power. Despite the “hell” that we have all been through, we have received no apology, no words of sympathy, only repeated orders of “keep quiet,” “don’t talk about this with anyone” and “this process is confidential.” … The system protects Doug, not us.
The man thus responded as saying that he was not friends with Doug Wright and was not biased against him. This man should have gotten the fucking sack, not be left alone. This is ridiculous.
-Waitress awarded £124,000 in compensation after chef sexually harrasses her - The Indy
-Dealing with Sexual Harrassment - Monster.co.uk