Dear Aunties,
I wasn’t going to ask you about this but after the Oscars I thought why not? I have been working in the same place for five years since I was 15. There are just as many men as women. Not all the men, but some comment all the time. One, particularly, advances on me with hands outstretched as if he was going to grab my boobs. He doesn’t but then all the men laugh! Another, sidles past me making remarks that are not bad enough to report but irritating such as, ‘I would be better than the feller you are going out with…do you wanta have a look why?‘ I am SICK of it! Any suggestions?
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Janet
Dear Janet
This is sexual harassment and you can report those men! We know this is all very well for us to say but in the long run it would be the way to stop such behaviour. If you belong to a union definitely report it to the union. If not the union, report it to your immediate superior and tell him or her how it makes you feel. Also, you could warn the offender of the possibility of reporting him. Do not laugh but say it seriously - ‘If you do that once more I will report you for sexual harassment!’
We think the speeches of the women at the Oscars and the charging of those Hollywood males has created a chance for women to stand up and say, NO MORE!
The Aunties
About the aunties
About the aunties
The Manning River Times presents a series of letters under the title ‘Ask the aunties’, focusing on potential scenarios that could lead to domestic violence. While the letters are imaginary, the problems are real for many women.
To seek help, phone 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732); Lifeline 13 11 14 or the police 000.
Some signs of abuse can include: unfairly and regularly accuses her of flirting or being unfaithful; controls how she spends money; decides what she wears or eats; humiliates her in front of other people; monitors what she is doing, including reading her emails and text messages; discourages or prevents her from seeing friends and family; threatens to hurt her, the children or pets; physically assaults her (hitting, biting, slapping, kicking, pushing); yells at her; threatens to use a weapon against her; decides what she uses for birth control; forces her to have an abortion or to continue a pregnancy; constantly compares her with other people; constantly criticises her intelligence, mental health and appearance; prevents her from practising her religion.
