Remember this general rule in any sexual harassment situation:

The first thing you must to do stop what you perceive is sexual harassment is to tell the harasser to STOP.

If you have not done this, you have not accomplished much. Just unemotionally and professionally ask this person to stop this behavior, if it bothers you or you feel it is unprofessional. Then, if it does not stop or gets worse, you take it from there, having the fact you did ASK THE PERSON TO STOP behind you.

deb

Originally Posted by NessaNurse

At my floor we all had to take a special harrssment class by lawyers because of a complaint. I personally never heard anything bad but whatever. The class emntioned that we arent even supposed to ask any of the male folks on the floor to pick up the sparklets bottles (big ones)and put them into into the water coolers. Now C'mon common sense would tell you a 6 foot man coud lift heavy stuff better than a 5 foot woman but whatever, asking them to help with that is sexual harrasment now Talk about taking things a little too PC

welcome to the wonderfull world of nursing

Originally Posted by NessaNurse

At my floor we all had to take a special harrssment class by lawyers because of a complaint. I personally never heard anything bad but whatever. The class emntioned that we arent even supposed to ask any of the male folks on the floor to pick up the sparklets bottles (big ones)and put them into into the water coolers. Now C'mon common sense would tell you a 6 foot man coud lift heavy stuff better than a 5 foot woman but whatever, asking them to help with that is sexual harrasment now Talk about taking things a little too PC

It's sort of interesting to think about the water cooler example above. Now, flip the scenario around. What would be said if the male in that situation used the same reasoning to consistently exclude the smaller females from lifting the water bottle? Would there be a rush to judgement about his perception of the females on his floor?

Re: Double Standard with Sexual Harassment

I have run into sexual discrimination as a male, but I just realize it is part of some peoples personalities. I was told by one female nurse I couldn't do history and focused exam on any young female. I do this every day, and as a trained professional, it is not even sexual in nature for me to see parts of a female that are normally covered when working in the ER. It's not like i've never seen something before?! It is a little demeaning for another nurse to discuss whether or not you should care for a certain patient because of your gender.

Re: Double Standard with Sexual Harassment

Another aspect of sexual harassment that hasn't been brought up
yet, and most people don't realize. If, for example, two nurses are
joking around in the break room -- telling off color jokes, getting into
the details of the sex lives, making fun of one gender or another --
if that's going on and they're not offending each other -- yet another
person is in the room listening and is offended -- that person can claim
sexual harassment under the law. This could also apply if a patient
happens to hear two nurses joking around and is offended by the
sexual nature of their discussion. I'm not saying it's right or wrong.
I'm just saying that's how it is. Something to think about.

Re: Double Standard with Sexual Harassment

Originally Posted by mattsmom81

I've posted about this before, but it involved him being the only male in a group of female breastfeeding nurses, who used the common break area to openly breastfeed their infants, change nursing pads, pump, etc. When he voiced his discomfort at this, HE was made the lascivious bad guy...and the girls complained to management, who fired him. When I said something to one of the girls about this (I knew the crew he was working with) they were outraged at him, and got mad at ME when I supported him.

So IMO women DO need to check that they aren't operating under a double standard.

Uncomfortable? lol, is he gay?

I probably would have popped a boner and rushed out trying to hide it...or if they were cool enough (ie they wouldn't run straight to the manager) I would made some kind of tit joke.

Either way, that's a really bad spot to put a guy in. There are so many things that could go wrong with having a guy in a room full of breastfeeding women.

Re: Double Standard with Sexual Harassment

Originally Posted by ZASHAGALKA

maybe it's just me, but as a guy, if the women I work with are being graphic with their sex lives, I just find a quiet corner of the nurses station so I can listen without them remembering that I'm there.

LOLOLOL.

It might be a double standard, but I think, as far as double standards go, in general, guys have it better.

~faith,
Timothy.

lol, this too. I like hearing about juicy details from women. Not for any kind of blackmail or spreading/reputation harming purposes, but simply because I find the subject so damn interesting.

Re: Double Standard with Sexual Harassment

I have been in the position where I was the one written up for sexual harrassment when 2 female nurses were bragging about having affairs on their boyfriends and what they would do if they caught those same guys messing around. I said that was a double standard and if they could do it so could their boyfriends. Of course they complained that I stated affairs were "ok" and that was "offensive" to them. Now I leave when certain topics are being discussed. Best thing to do!!

Re: Double Standard with Sexual Harassment

[quote=DITN;3898955]Uncomfortable? lol, is he gay?

I probably would have popped a boner and rushed out trying to hide it...or if they were cool enough (ie they wouldn't run straight to the manager) I would made some kind of tit joke.

Either way, that's a really bad spot to put a guy in. There are so many things that could go wrong with having a guy in a room full of breastfeeding women.[/QUOTE]

Nursing a baby is not a sexual thing. Most of the time you won't see what I think you may be imagining. As a woman, and a plenty cool one at that , I'd say you're better off skipping the tit joke. The mothers may not go to the manager, but they will very likely think you're a Grade A d**che. Cheers!

Re: Double Standard with Sexual Harassment

Originally Posted by DITN

Uncomfortable? lol, is he gay?

I probably would have popped a boner and rushed out trying to hide it...or if they were cool enough (ie they wouldn't run straight to the manager) I would made some kind of tit joke.

Either way, that's a really bad spot to put a guy in. There are so many things that could go wrong with having a guy in a room full of breastfeeding women.

This reply is wrong on so many levels.

First off, what does being gay have to do with anything? I don't get that.

Popped a boner? Tit jokes? Really? You're supposed to be a professional. That is how you would interact with your colleagues? Complete and utter lack of respect.

And women breastfeeding is so far from erotic it's ridiculous.

We must be discussing some really immature and insecure men.