I was just posting to say updates are going to be a little slow coming for a couple of weeks. I have a new page in the works, I’m not on a hiatus, I just need to focus my artistic attention toward putting together a graphic design portfolio to get a new job.
It’s kind of a long story that I sort of need to get off of my chest . . . As some of you know, I work at a bakery at a casino (casinos are generally not well known for being the most feminist establishments in existence). It’s a job I hate and I’ve been looking for another job since February, but to no avail. I’ve also been looking for other crappy jobs to replace my currently crappy job which I see now is no help.
Last Monday this all came to a head when I was sexually assaulted while I was closing the bakery at work. I’m okay. Just more angry than anything else.
There was this dishwasher who I know has had a crush on me for most of the time I’ve worked there (about a year). He has tried to chat me up on various occasions. At the time I was flattered, but am currently in a relationship with someone and have been for almost six years. This particular individual only speaks Spanish and is roughly my dad’s age. I’m normally a rather assertive individual and have no problem turning someone down if I’m not interested in them. I always do my best to be as polite and discreet as possible, even. If things go badly, I also have no problem telling someone off and arguing with them. However if neither I nor the person in question speaks the same language, that tends to complicate things a bit.
So he had tried to approach me and speak to me on various occasions, it made me uncomfortable but I couldn’t bring myself to be rude to him. It also seemed like a dick move to report someone for just talking to me so I didn’t. Also a friend of mine had reported someone for sexual harassment not to long before, and they didn’t do anything about it. They even made it out to be her fault. Keeping all this in mind, I just avoided him the best I could.
He kept trying to get me to meet in the back of the restaurant with him in private so I decided to have a friend of mine who spoke Spanish teach me how to say I had a boyfriend in Spanish (figuring he’d be more likely to leave me alone if I said I had a boyfriend). One day this guy followed me into the back as I was leaving. I told him I had a boyfriend in his language, he showed me his wedding ring and informed me I was “very pretty” in English. I slipped away and continued avoiding him. This was several months ago.
And then last Monday happened. I was closing and completely alone. It was a really busy night, so I was in the back kind of late cleaning up. He was in the back also on trash duty. I tried to do my thing and get out of there as fast as possible. I passed him, he stopped me and said something in Spanish and reached out and touched my boob and then said something I can only interpret as a compliment to my chest. I turned around to sign out and leave. He then cornered me and proceeded to start feeling me up. I kept saying no, raising my voice each time. He just said “Si”. He then went in for a kiss, I turned my head away but he still planted one on my neck.
It was then that I managed to shove past him. He held on to my wrist so I had to pull away. I made a beeline to my car. I was so upset I forgot to turn on my headlights and was pulled over by a cop who I think took pity on me and let me off with a warning.
I reported him after that and I thought he was going to get fired. HR investigated and informed me this week that there’s no proof that it happened and they’re letting him come back. Also that it’s my fault for not reporting it sooner. The thing is this is the exact reason I never said anything before. They’ve had a history of not doing anything about it. I was afraid of reporting him, them not doing anything, and having him pissed off. Now I have to deal with whether or not he’s going to retaliate. I have friends walk me to my car at night while making sure no one follows me home. I’m now nervous to close by myself and don’t like being alone at work. Basically I just don’t feel safe.
I would love for nothing more than to be able to make a living off of this comic. I want to stay home and work on this and some other projects I don’t have time for at this particular moment. Then the only person around to grope me would be my girlfriend and that’s okay. 
But anyway, I am currently putting a graphic design portfolio together in order to find a new, better job. I need to get out of this job.
I’m also working on ideas for t-shirts which I plan to sell on my own. I’ll post more on that as it progresses.
Also if you are looking for cheap commissions, here’s a personal project of mine for you to check out:
Project: Faces by *bratkitty on deviantART
I was looking for a way to practice different faces while making a little extra cash on the side.
As I said, I’m not on hiatus. I’m just going to take a bit longer getting the new page up is all.
I am sorry to hear that and also very sorry that your job didn’t listen when you reported it. I wish there was something more that could be done sadly besides getting another job but getting out of there now is the best option for you. Your art style is very well done with a good portfolio put together hopefully you’ll land a graphic design job and you can tell your bosses at the bakery where to shove it. Hopefully at least with you reporting it they had to contact the man in question. Maybe he’ll think twice before doing something like that again. My email is with this posting, if you wanna talk (I am a complete stranger though XD) I am a good listener. Good luck
Thanks, I really appreciate it.
. . . well except the sex offenders.
So far what they’re doing is trying to contact him to get him to come back but haven’t been able to get a hold of him. So now I’m just hoping he just kind of falls off of the face of the earth and I just don’t hear from him again. Though if he does, I’m told I have a pretty good case for getting a restraining order against him.
Now if only they’d put that kind of effort into hiring people who aren’t sex offenders, everyone would be happy.
Well, I’m going to commit murder now.
Also maybe buy a T-shirt.
Whichever comes first.
Lawl, this is my new favorite comment. XD
~♥!
D’awww! I ♥ you too.
Awww im sorry to hear what happened to you.. It feels like (for any sexual offense including just all out rape) they feel it’s the girls fault for what happened ‘because they shouldn’t look pretty’ I find that quite a sad excuse. But I suppose they want proof on what happened since they cant just trust your word. Still it irritates me that they do almost nothing. I’m happy that you have friends watching over you though ^^ I’ve been reading your comic for awhile and I enjoy reading it ^^ but I understand if you have to delay pages and I shall be patient
“It feels like (for any sexual offense including just all out rape) they feel it’s the girls fault for what happened ‘because they shouldn’t look pretty’ I find that quite a sad excuse. ”
I always thought this was a flimsy excuse also. Not only is it insulting to women, but does a great disservice to men as well. It implies that men lack the higher brain functions to exercise self control when presented with the object of their attraction. Personally I think more highly of men and hold them to a higher standard.
And it’s an especially stupid excuse for a casino environment since oftentimes they require their female employees to wear make up and revealing clothing. The bakery uniforms are basically blowing uniforms with aprons so the ‘short skirt defense’ doesn’t apply to me, but I’m still expected to wear makeup.
In fact, there was a story I read about a woman who had been a employee of the month and worked at Harrah’s (competing casino in our area) for fifteen years who was fired for not wearing makeup because they decided it was against dress code.
But that’s a rant for another day. Like I said, casinos aren’t the most feminist of establishments.
The friend I mentioned, after she reported the cook who harassed her, had the director of the entire food and beverage department come up to her and give her a “talk” about the way men are and how she should be more careful from now on. We found out later from our manager that he just assumed she was an 18 year old girl. She’s 27, engaged, and with a kid.
Double murder.
It’s a comin’.
GAH! I am sorry that that happened to you, and sadly your case is not the only one of its kind. The first thing employers will do is blame the victim. Just reading about it ticks me off, and I wish I could offer something more than words of comfort.
I love your comic and I can’t wait to see what happens next, and I understand about looking for better work elsewhere. So if it takes longer for you to update, than that’s cool. It’s better to wait for good artwork than to get substandard work fast.
Words of comfort mean more than you think.
It’s amazing out of all the people I’ve talked to about this, how many of them have had similar problems. Some work places are just sleazy that way.
I’m glad you like my comic. I’ll try and get a new page up as soon as I can. As obsessed as I am about finding a new job, I still hate leaving everyone here hanging. >_<
Thank you!
This sucks. There should be something more you could do, like go to the police or file a restraining order against him or something. Also, you should be able to leave a hostel work environment and still collect unemployment (your mileage may vary, check your state laws before quitting).
If the company won’t do anything, the legal system should and they will have less reason to ignore you. Do mention going to the police to HR, it may get them off their asses. Or even the media! Nothing makes female customers feel safe like a known rapist serving them! Amirite?
At least that’s what I would do. I hold grudges and would not let this die until everyone suffered with me.
Hope you get a new job! *hug* Stay safe!
My heart goes out to you. Many of my friends have this happen to them, more then i think admit it. It deeply offends my morality. Are stunguns and mace/pepper spray illegal in your state? Just askin…
If you have evidence of sexual harassment, your employer hires 15 or more employees, and the company doesn’t properly investigate and/or act, the company may be in violation of U.S. Civil Rights Act of 1964.
I’d talk to a lawyer. Bring any/all evidence and information about any witnesses. In the future, make certain you keep a hand-written record – with dates, names, places, description, and times of any incidents.
If you don’t do that, file a charge with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). You have 180 days from the incident to do so. Here’s the lead page:
http://www.eeoc.gov/laws/types/sexual_harassment.cfm