11 Times You Were Sexually Harassed And Didn’t Even Realize It

The first time I was “sexually harassed” was in the 9th grade, when my Latin teacher threw me out of class because my turtleneck sweater was “too tight” across my chest and he found it to be a distraction to the “male students” in the room. I was 14-years-old. At the time, I didn’t realize he was sexually harassing me – constantly staring at my chest throughout my class time and often times, asking me to stay after class to “discuss things.” Throughout the years moving forward, I experienced sexual harassment in the workplace.

 

Working in restaurants, it’s a social “normality” for cooks in the kitchen to sexualize waitresses. As well, in bartending, men come in and constantly make snide comments about my body and its features. While it’s not them putting their hands on me, they aren’t assaulting me or holding me against my will – they are still harassing me sexually and putting me on display as their own little “treat.” It took me years to realize all the ways and times throughout my life I was the victim of sexual harassment, and, in more ways than one.

1. Being cat-called on the street.

No matter where you are or what you’re doing, when people whistle at you, cat-call you or make comments about you while you’re walking down the street minding your own business – that’s sexual harassment.

 

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