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.

    • girlfreddy
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      4 months ago

      Teaching male children that sexual harrassment and rape are wrong.

      • lolcatnip@reddthat.com
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        4 months ago

        That involves persuading their parents they should care. Note I said persuading, not teaching. They know damn well it’s wrong and they don’t care as long as they can get away with it.

    • Glemek@lemmy.world
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      4 months ago

      I think their point is that going to the media might have been the best option.

      Edit:spelling

      • sunzu@kbin.run
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        4 months ago

        What result did it achieve?

        I really don’t get how going to media is better than going to the police lol

        But it is their decisions to make.

          • sunzu@kbin.run
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            4 months ago

            We see these regularly…

            Only time it really worked when it was #metoo season and dozens of celebrities came out with accusations to point where there was sufficient evidence to convict some of these pests.

            I guess time will tell but I bet we won’t hear about it again