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70s Instructional Work Place Video
Sep. 11th, 2012 05:25 pm As some of you may know, I've decided to give temping a whirl to make money during my PhD study. Today was my third day in two weeks at the same office, it'd been going well and was a super easy job.
Today the Managing Director (super small company/plumbing firm so only 8 people in the office which includes the MD and directors) came and leaned *on* my shoulder as I queried the content of a letter I was transcribing for him from a tape. I had that initial shudder of "urgh, stranger invading my personal space" and then a thought sprung into my head, as he stayed there, pushing into me, for much too long; "am I being sexually harassed...in the workplace?"
The other me who lives in my head considered the situation and said "yes, I think you are! I think we're being sexually harassed!"
After he left I sat there, somewhat bemused and decided to give him the benefit of the doubt. About 5 minutes later I was standing talking to another person who works there and he came and put his hand just above my bum and then slid it up to the small of my back...!!
The little voice was absolutely hopping with shock; "we're being sexually harassed! I can't believe it! It's just like you hear about! It's 2012 for gods sakes! I can't believe he's sexually harassing me!!"
The rest of the afternoon saw me trying to move out of his way, putting all of an extra half centimetre between us every time he came to my work station.
I think, of all the reactions I could have had, examining the situation quite objectively and being rather bemused was one of the better ones. Giving him a slap might have been even better; but it's like what Caitlin Moran says in How to be a Woman, it's a bit like 'sneaky sexism' you're hoping up and down in your head saying "I think he's doing sexism to you...he is! I'm sure he's doing sexism....nobody else seems to be noticing, is it definitely sexism?"
Oh well, not working there again. Another one to chalk up to 'life experience' and a rather unwarranted reminder that we are still living in a society where sexism happens, in really well-hashed ways.
Today the Managing Director (super small company/plumbing firm so only 8 people in the office which includes the MD and directors) came and leaned *on* my shoulder as I queried the content of a letter I was transcribing for him from a tape. I had that initial shudder of "urgh, stranger invading my personal space" and then a thought sprung into my head, as he stayed there, pushing into me, for much too long; "am I being sexually harassed...in the workplace?"
The other me who lives in my head considered the situation and said "yes, I think you are! I think we're being sexually harassed!"
After he left I sat there, somewhat bemused and decided to give him the benefit of the doubt. About 5 minutes later I was standing talking to another person who works there and he came and put his hand just above my bum and then slid it up to the small of my back...!!
The little voice was absolutely hopping with shock; "we're being sexually harassed! I can't believe it! It's just like you hear about! It's 2012 for gods sakes! I can't believe he's sexually harassing me!!"
The rest of the afternoon saw me trying to move out of his way, putting all of an extra half centimetre between us every time he came to my work station.
I think, of all the reactions I could have had, examining the situation quite objectively and being rather bemused was one of the better ones. Giving him a slap might have been even better; but it's like what Caitlin Moran says in How to be a Woman, it's a bit like 'sneaky sexism' you're hoping up and down in your head saying "I think he's doing sexism to you...he is! I'm sure he's doing sexism....nobody else seems to be noticing, is it definitely sexism?"
Oh well, not working there again. Another one to chalk up to 'life experience' and a rather unwarranted reminder that we are still living in a society where sexism happens, in really well-hashed ways.
