Kraft1

Katelynn Kraft
Professor Scaife
Comp 1
9/ /15
Sexual Harassment
I was always that person who would say thats not going to happen to me when it came
to anything bad that people always talk about whether it be cancer, a bad car wreck, or in this
case, sexual harassment. I am a former waitress at a diner in my hometown that I left in May of
2015. About four months after I left, on September 2, 2015, I got a phone call from my old
manager saying that the owner had admitted to taking pictures of all of us waitresses for his own
sexual pleasure, and that there was a case being filed against him. I never thought Id be the one
to be dealing with the way this situation has made me feel or that I would be filing a sexual
harassment charge against my old employer. It took me back and it made me feel so violated and
disgusted with him and especially myself. I experienced a lot of sexual comments from my male
customers about my appearance and how well my jeans fit, etc. Although it grossed me out and
made me feel bad about myself I felt like I had to put up with the comments. The same people
who were putting me down and degrading me with their gross gestures were also the ones who
were giving me my paycheck. Working as a waitress I only made $2.63 an hour, plus whatever
tips that I made every shift. But this harassment coming from my employer is a different story to
me. He was supposed to protect us and help us to feel safe at work, yet he was the worst enemy
of all.
After that phone call and all of the things I experienced as a waitress it made me think,
how often does this happen to waitresses? How does this harassment make other waitresses feel

Kraft2

about themselves? Since I have experienced it and this harassment has become a lawsuit, I
decided to interview two of my old coworkers (who wish to stay anonymous) for my questions
and their views about sexual harassment. This case has not been closed yet, as it is still an
ongoing investigation.
The two women that I interviewed are victims of the same man, one being a good friend,
Jane, and the other was our manager, Flo. Although we are glad to have each other for support,
this has not been easy to deal with and has been emotional for all of us. Even though I
interviewed Jane and Flo at different times, they both had the same things to say when it came to
telling me how this experience has made them feel about themselves. In Flos words she said it
made me feel degraded, abused, dirty, and I have bits of rage. This makes women petrified and
feel that they always have to watch over their shoulders and no woman should have to feel like
that. It is a stigmatism that women are the weaker sex so they are harassed more. Jane told me
that this type of violation makes you feel just horrible about yourself and gross and tears you
down as a person mentally and emotionally. I view it just how I view rape. I constantly watch
over my shoulders I always feel that someone or he is watching me. I think that more women
experience sexual harassment because we think less sexualy about people than men do. It is a
proven fact that men think about sex subconsciously up to 40 times an hour; 1,000 times a day.
Sexual harassment does make you feel dirty and bad about yourself, especially when it came
from someone we were supposed to trust and count on which is where the rage that we all have
comes from.
Its so easy to be upset because you feel so exposed at the same time youre being
brought down with all of these degrading comments. Now knowing what this man wanted from
us, can make anyone feel like they are two feet tall. Its not fair for someone to think just because

Kraft3

they can to take advantage of, in this situation, mostly young, underage girls to fulfill a need that
should have been taken care of in any other way but to harass young girls and take pictures
without consent for personal pleasure later on.
During my interview with Flo, she shared more feelings about this situation as well as
advice for anyone, male or female, who feel like they may be a victim or if they feel
uncomfortable in their workplace. She said that as far as her self-esteem went hers did not go
down but from what she could see in the young waitresses that were still at the diner, their selfesteem went down a lot. While we were talking we discussed how young women could prepare
themselves for the harassment and it wouldnt come as a big shock to them; young women
could be more educated on sexual harassment, there should be equal employment posters that
every business is supposed to have (ours didnt) and every employer should make all
employees read it so that if a situation occurs, everybody knows how to handle it. When young
women are just starting out and getting their first job as a waitress, the sudden attention that is
given can be overwhelming for some, especially those who dont like putting themselves out and
being the center of attention. As a waitress you have to call the peoples attention at the table you
are serving, sometimes its not the attention that you want. Sexual harassment is a mental
illness. His was definitely a mental illness with the continuous watching on the work cameras
of all the girls in the workplace and using it for his sexual pleasure. Something has got to be
wrong with you to go to the lengths of stalking that he went to with all of the girls at the diner.
If girls are educated and showed the warning signs and how to determine if the comments or
gestures toward them are too sexual and uncalled for from an employer or fellow employee
inside the job or out, it is extremely inappropriate.

Kraft4

Janes feelings went toward how the comments made to her by our customers and our
employer made her feel like I should wear sweatpants and oversized T-shirts all of the time to
avoid men looking at me inappropriately as well as their wandering eyes going towards my chest
or my lower back area. Women shouldnt feel like they have to lower themselves down to avoid
negative sexual confrontation from men about their bodies. While women shouldnt be dressing
in very provocative clothes, they should be able to dress how they want and dress for themselves
without worrying about provoking men to feel the need to give sexual comments about a
womans body or her appearance in general.
Although it is more common for sexual harassment to occur in the workplace, and female
waitresses are the most harassed, it can occur anywhere at anytime. It can happen at school, at
the mall, and especially at parties or clubs, etc. As a woman, I encourage all other women to
learn the warning signs of sexual harassment and do not be afraid to call someone out on the
inappropriate behavior. If you see a fellow woman being harassed, dont be afraid to stand up for
her. Go to someone and talk to them about what is going on, whether you think it is a big deal or
not. For men, I can only hope that you were raised and taught to respect women. But for those
who werent, women are not just for sexual pleasures. Do not ever make a woman feel like she is
less of a person by degrading her for her sexuality; we are just as capable as men and can do
anything we set our minds and hearts toward. Although my story is about my sexual harassment
experience as well as the women I interviewed, it does not mean men are always at the harassing
end. Although it is not near as common, men experience sexual harassment as well. I would
never have chosen to go through this experience, and I wouldnt ever wish this upon anyone else.
At the same time, I hope that my story encourages others, both male and female, to become more

Kraft5

educated on sexual harassment so they can better protect themselves if they ever get caught in
this type of situation.

Kraft6

Works Cited
Doe, Jane. Personal interview. 8 Sept. 2015.
Holiday, Flo. Personal interview. 8 Sept. 2015.