Photo by Steve Snodgrass via flickr

I’ve been reading all of these stories, and I’ve never really felt more compelled to share my own than right now. I’m a teenage girl, and while I’ve had my share of harassment on the streets, in stores, and at school, I’ve always had a special kind of harassment at my workplace. I work at a discount theater in Northern Virginia, and it seems that every time I come in for work, nearly every male patron chooses to hit on me, ask me on a date, flirt with me, or try to touch me. They leer over the counter and try to stare down my top. More often than not, these are grown men with their wives and children sitting in the theater while they go get snacks from me. Do you know how many times I’ve heard “You look tired.”, “You have beautiful eyes”, “You should be a model.”, “What’s your name?” “Tight ass.”, “Great tits.” or my personal ‘favorite’ “You look sexy in that outfit.”? Too many. And for the record, I wear mom jeans and an oversized plaid shirt to work, along with the smock we are forced to wear. Nothing sexy about it.

And the worst thing is, when I try to bring it up among my female co workers, they just brush it off. They don’t care. And my male co-workers, including my forty five year old manager try to hit on my and rub up on me in the same way!

I’m frightened to come into work, and I don’t know what to say to these people without it getting reported to my manager or boss. I want to quit, but I need the money to save for college, plus my dad helped me get the job and I don’t want to disappoint him.

But I’m sick and tired of being a sex object at work.

Submitted by Brietta

Location: At work, VA

Time of Harassment: Day Time (9:30A-3:30P)

Do you have a personal experience with gender-based public sexual harassment or assault you would like to submit? Just click here and fill out the online submission form. All submissions are posted anonymously unless you specify.