Katie* is one of three female paramedics who have shared their experiences of being “hounded” for sexual favours in return for passing training, getting a promotion or simply keeping their jobs.

Although these remarks were often dismissed as “jokes” or “banter”, Katie says, occasionally it shifted into a “monumental” abuse of power.

“Handjobs. Blowjobs. They were obsessed with blowjobs,” she says.

Once I made a mistake with a patient, and a colleague tried to blackmail me into having sex with him. It was horrendous. When I told him no, he said, “watch your back, because I could rape you”.

I don’t know how you change this culture. When posters saying “We Do Not Tolerate Sexual Harassment” were put on the doors in the ladies toilets, a man crossed out the “Not” and drew a penis next to a woman’s mouth.

  • The Snark Urge
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    941 month ago

    This may shock you, but sexual assault happens in America

    • @RaoulDook
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      -951 month ago

      That may be true, but at least the women have a fighting chance.

      • themeatbridge
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        591 month ago

        So you’re saying that the appropriate response to office sexual harassment is to start shooting lecherous coworkers? I’m not saying it’s a bad idea, but I don’t think you’ve thought this through.

      • @Cosmicomical
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        191 month ago

        Slow down Judge Dredd, having people killi each other with no need to provide proof or due process is not the happy world your brain is conjuring.

        • @[email protected]
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          1 month ago

          You should have gone with the Punisher. The Punisher is a vigilante, Dredd is literally the “due process.”

          He says it a lot… Like a lot a lot. It’s kind of his whole deal? Being the law? And a literal fascist.

          • @Cosmicomical
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            21 month ago

            Well, let’s discuss the meaning of due process… if you mean an established procedure then yes, but if you mean a procedure that is also fair and can account for mistakes I’m in disagreement. Once Dredd has unilaterally decided on a sentence and shot you right there and then, there is no appeal.

            • @[email protected]
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              11 month ago

              That’s the fun thing about Dredd: he can always find some crime to execute you for because Megacity One has outlawed everything but licking their boots the exact way they like.