Month: December 2017

“Today I had orientation for a government job where myself and a female employee discussed my role as an intern and what I should be expecting during the upcoming weeks. The orientation also consisted of a long discussion about sexual harassment and what steps to take if I do experience anything that made me feel uncomfortable. She continued to talk about who I could speak to as an outlet if it ever did happen during my time there. She stated that she’s never had an issue with an intern however she continued by stating, “let’s be real, it’s gonna happen sooner or later.” In the moment of the interview I didn’t think much of her comment, however after thinking about it more I felt sad that sexual harassment has now become a norm for females to experiencing in the work force. As a young woman this makes me nervous for the future. Are we in an era where I should be preparing myself to experience sexual harassment? Are employers preparing their employees for this “reality”” – Female, 21

“My best friend is in a long distance relationship with this guy, so I’ve never met him in person. He followed me on Instagram a few weeks ago. Objectively speaking, my Instagram is what some might call modest. The only remotely revealing photo on my account is a photo of me laying on a bed with rose petals and towel animals (made by hotel staff) in a bikini while on vacation with my boyfriend in Mexico. My friend’s boyfriend told her that he had to unfollow me because he was sick of seeing all of my “slutty photos of me wearing no clothing” and he could “just tell” that I was a selfie obsessed attention seeking type of girl. He’s never met me.” – Female, 21

“You should feel uncomfortable, you’re part of the problem!  So I’m in the Vagina Monologues and my friend and I were doing this piece and one of the lines is: “I’m so over the passivity of good men” and it’s so true. Yeah, you can be a good man and you can understand and you can not say sexist, transphobic, homophobic shit but like if you’re passive about it then you’re part of the problem, right?   Because you’re not standing up and talking to your brothers, and your father and your friends about the shit that they’re doing and if you’re not taking your position of privilege and using it to help others then what the fuck are you doing?” – Female, 20 

“It was my freshman year, we were invited to a pregame at ___.  I was playing pong with this guy, I don’t remember who it was or what he looked like.  We were just playing pong, it was totally normal just talking and then he just put his hand…just like held it on my butt and just kept it there. I’m usually someone who speaks out and I don’t know what happened, it just startled me a lot and I kind of just stepped away and I remember so vividly what I was wearing because that was my first reaction.  What was I wearing that could make him think he could do that and now I’m so mad at myself for having that first reaction.  I was wearing athletic leggings and a T-shirt and I was like how could he think that I would want that in athletic leggings and a shirt.  Now I can’t stop thinking about how I immediately thought it was my fault.” – Female, 21

“One night I was at a frat party, a boy kept touching me and my costume. I asked him to stop multiple times and his friend responded with, “you’re at a frat house, what did you expect.” Location never warrants anyone to touch others without their consent, and it’s experiences like these that make myself and other women nervous and cautious around men.” – Female, 21

“I can always tell when a man is looking at me with bad intentions.  Call it a gut feeling, I guess.  I think you could probably ask any woman about this, theres something in that look that makes me feel small.  Some times its a quick up-down, like he’s assessing my body other times it’s a look with a sly grin and then other times it’s just a vibe.  I don’t know if its conscious on their part but it makes my skin crawl and just want to get out of there as fast as possible, even in the most seemingly innocent situations.  I wonder if I could make a man feel that way with one look.” – Female, 20