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Author
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Topic: Put out fires, and put up with harassment on the job - No water in you hose? Funny!
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writer
editor emeritus
Babbler # 2513
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posted 21 March 2006 03:32 PM
Richmond's female firefighters walk off job, allege harassment All the women on the Richmond fire department walk off the job. The fire chief says that, by the end of the month, there will be separate washrooms for women and a new code of conduct and sensitivity training. "It's going to be a new set of rules – rules that probably should have been in place earlier."
He hopes the women will conclude these chages will make it safe to come back to work.
From: tentative | Registered: Apr 2002
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Tehanu
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 9854
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posted 21 March 2006 11:18 PM
Funny, I was thinking this on another thread about deporting undocumented workers and the comments about there not enough skilled tradespeople (and that's hardly the only reason not to deport people!), particularly in construction. Well, I was around a construction project last summer and in that environment there's still plenty of sexism to go around. For example, at one point there was a request that workers stop making derogatory and harassing comments to/about passing female students (this was at a university), and the reaction was "well, it's a construction site, what do you expect?" The site manager did speak to the "guys" and the comments ceased ... or so we thought, until another student reported that they'd just switched languages. So if we want and need more skilled tradespeople, and we want to actively encourage more young women to go into trades, maybe we should work on making working environments a teeny bit more welcoming.
From: Desperately trying to stop procrastinating | Registered: Jul 2005
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1ndiemuse
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 10536
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posted 22 March 2006 12:12 AM
oh gawsh, I love babblers. I just saw this story on CBC and came right here to post it but, of course, someone beat me to it.The chief's quote would have one belive that this issue is as simple as Mens and womens bathrooms when it really goes way further. quote:
Among other things, Moznik alleged in her statement of claim that other firefighters cut off the water supply to a hose she was using to battle a blaze, put human feces in her boots and pants, and displayed hard-core pornography in her presence.
This is absolutely disgusting. I hope that the fireMEN who are responsable as well as those who are responsable for overseeing them are held accountable.
From: Everybody knows this is nowhere . . . | Registered: Oct 2005
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beaver
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 10226
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posted 22 March 2006 09:25 PM
It's fair to say I "put up with harrassment on the job." Do you (feminist babblers) think it's a woman's responsibility to call men on everything that could make someone uncomfortable? I was thinking of how many "harmless" comments I let slide at my own workplace. For example, this afternoon a co-worker sat next to me and whispered, "I want your babies." I know this man quite well - he's in his late 50's, he's an affable alcoholic who has no family, and he IS just kidding. HE thinks his comment was funny, and it was intended as a joke... I just laugh these things off, but I've been wondering if I'm doing the next woman who comes into my company a disservice. Or perhaps I'm doing this gentleman a disservice, because by not warning him about his inappropriateness I could be "setting him up" for a harassment allegation... I work with a lot of older men, and I've heard lots of sexism, and I've heard a lot of well intentioned but offensive comments. There are times I need to tell someone they are out of line, but if I did it every time I'd never get a chance to actually work! [ 22 March 2006: Message edited by: beaver ]
From: here and there | Registered: Aug 2005
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Sineed
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 11260
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posted 22 March 2006 10:09 PM
I've gotten two men fired for sexual harrassment. That said, I wouldn't generally do that unless the workplace was pretty scary.For inappropriate comments, maybe just throw it back at him, if you can think of something witty. One of the guys at my work went to the donut shop for everybody, and brought back a muffin for one of the women. Some of the guys (it's a guy-dominated workplace) poked a hole in the top of the muffin with a pen and wrote on the bag, "short and thick does the trick." So we women got to make fun of the guys, saying, "Are you men, or are you little boys, behaving like this." And we kept it jocular, but we didn't let it pass unnoticed. It's a good idea to let a man know his behaviour is not on. Though if it were a very old guy who was going to retire soon, I might cut him some slack.
From: # 668 - neighbour of the beast | Registered: Dec 2005
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