When thinking about rape culture, we tend to think of a young woman, alone, in a dark place getting attacked by a sketchy man following her home. However, this often isn’t the case. We teach young girls what to wear, how to stay safe when out alone and to ignore the whistles from strangers. Now imagine a place where women are told to just smile at men and spark a conversation, regardless of how many sexual comments come your way, where they teach you if you are attacked, to wait for help, instead of trying to protect yourself. This was the job I had every day. And no, I didn’t work at a strip club, or a restaurant like hooters where women are used for their bodies, I worked as a cashier at a gas station. I know I shouldn’t have expected much, a gas station isn’t where you go to work when looking for a quality job, but I was promised ten dollars an hour and a safe work environment.
My job had high work standards. Strict dress code and strict behavioral expectations, including to be kind to customers. This was an easy request, I was a nice person and never thought I would get angry enough to have to walk away from a customer. Then I started the job, and realized that I would feel this way several times a shift. I was only 17, and constantly got approached by men twice my age who didn’t know when to stop coming closer. I would step outside for five minutes to take out the trash and would get stared down until I felt uncomfortable enough to go back inside. I was brought to the register to help certain elderly men because they would buy more when an attractive young woman was the one to help them at the register. I eventually became numb to this behavior. I allowed myself to become used to a certain protocol for every situation, to press my panic button and approach the nearest manager. It wasn’t until I came to college that I realized how unprepared I really was. Old men would approach me on the bus, I would turn and realize that I am essentially alone. Yes there is a bus driver, and other passengers surrounding me, but I have no panic button and no sense of security.
I was told to ignore the rude customers, the sexual comments, gestures, the constant work with no breaks. I made ten dollars an hour, almost three dollars than minimum wage, what right did I have to complain? Every teenager has a shitty job, or no job at all, and get paid way less to do it. Maybe I don’t have a right to complain, but to be objectified in a place that is supposed to make you feel safe is wrong. We don’t have to love our jobs, but we deserve to feel safe and not have to be fearful at work. The worst part is I can’t leave my job, it is my only source of income and as a college student I need money. And that is the situation for most teenagers, and adults. We are forced to stay in jobs where we don’t feel safe or comfortable because money is something no one can live without. That is why I plan to save up my money, from this dead end job that no one can stand doing, and find a job where I am given the protection I deserve.
