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.

  • themeatbridge
    link
    594 months 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.