So I’ve been working in retail for a while and I’ve learned a few things about the industry because of that. I’ve also learned some lessons about the real world alongside that. Yet, no matter where I go or what kind of job I’ll have in the future, there is definitely one thing that will never escape me or for the most part anyone else that works in an environment that involves both genders (anywhere basically), sexual harassment and the stuff that goes with it. Don’t worry, I’m not going to bore you on why sexual harassment in any kind of environment is a bad thing, because I’m pretty sure we are all aware of it by now. Yet somehow I cannot help but wonder if anyone can do more to prevent it or diminish it’s presence at least.
Case in point, I was recently taking a harassment and sexual harassment training course at work because it’s mandatory, and I was having a slow day. Anyhow while I was taking this I couldn’t help but notice that the store’s music player had this song by Demi Lovato that was literally about how bad the singer wanted to get laid. I’m standing in my own store in utter astonishment at this point wondering who picks the songs in these players (because they’re pretty universal from store to store) and were they in their right mind when they selected this one. I mean for God’s sake, we have children come into this store with their parents on a daily basis. Then I thought, "OK, maybe one song slipped through the cracks, and I’ll have it noted on the playlist." Wrong -- three songs later, another song with overt to nonexistent innuendos is playing in my store an hour later. Did it make me feel uncomfortable because of the theme of these songs being about sex? Not really, but I am certain that one day someone whether an employee or customers would be or get the wrong idea. So that got me to thinking about how maybe our music may be part of our problem when it comes to sexual harassment.
There are a lot of songs in our world that have sexual references to them and some are well less subtle than others about it. I’m a huge fan of music and almost all forms of it, and I’m well aware that pretty much every genre (save gospel and Christian themed music) is gonna have songs about sex in them. However, I’m a staunch believer that the media we subject ourselves to does influence us in one way shape or form. For example every time I listen to “Adios” by Ricky Martin, I feel the insatiable desire to start dancing the tango even though I don’t know how to dance the tango. Do I act on those desire? No, because I generally hear it at work and I’m pretty sure I’d look like an idiot, but that’s beside the point. Anyhow, the point I’m getting at is that while you can’t change whatever media an employee watches, listens, reads etc. while they’re not at work folks at management can still have some influence on what they listen to while they’re on the job. Of course, I also get that the music needs to go with the atmosphere of the place (like a high energy vibe at my job) you can certainly accomplish that without picking out songs about one night stands.
