“I looking fuh a new job because I had to just leave the job in the market because I didn’t able with what you have to go through there. You imagine you trying to do you work and people just touching you, you know, feeling you up,” the young woman was speaking to an older woman over the counter of the café as I entered.
“Man, that is just sad. I wish we had a work here to give you. Women must not have to go through them things,” the older woman answered; the young woman nodded her head slowly in agreement.
“Well I couldn’t work deh because me and them woulda catch wrong because no man ain’t feeling me up and I teking it just so,” chimed in another young woman who was listening to the conversation.
“Girl I know and that is why I had to leave the job because I couldn’t bear it no more. It was getting out of hand,” the aggrieved young woman said.
As I listened, I could not help but feel sad for the young woman who was complaining as her entire disposition indicated how desperate she was for a new job. I was also angry that women continue to be sexually harassed by men who feel that it is their God-given right to do so.
I decided to engage the young woman and I asked her if she had not complained to her employer about the harassment.
“Yea I tell he, but wha he coulda really do? He could just talk because remember he want money. He talk and is still them men would want to touch, touch you and feel you,” she answered.
She explained that her employer provided a number of services to people passing through the Stabroek Market, which saw her being in front of the shop counter.
“We had to be in front, you know, helping the customers them and so when they walk in is we right there and we boss he behind the counter… Them market man, some a them like them porter and suh and some a them just liming, they would coming in and they would want touch you hand. Sometimes they pass and like rub you bamsee [buttocks] and pretend like it is a accident. Some a them does even want touch you breast. It is nah two cents you does go through.
“Sometimes I would pretend like I ain’t know is wha happen because that is how them other girls does tek it. But, you know, I used to be just boiling up inside because it never used to make me feel good. Is like if I is some prostitute or something. I know is not sex but that is how it used to make me feel. Like to keep this job I have to let men touch me and suh,” she said close to tears.
“And you know the job used to pay good. At least it was enough to like help me out and provide for me son but one day I just say I couldn’t take this thing anymore. Is just bare problems.”
I asked her if she ever attempted to report any of the incidents.
“Well one time I decide to report a porter boy to the police outpost in the market and me and the policewoman end up getting into a fight because like she did know the boy. I went to report and she like was arguing with me like trying to tell me what I telling she ain’t making sense or it ain’t worth reporting. That is how I was feeling and then she start pointing up she finger in me face and like me ain’t know wha happen because I done vex and we end up in a fight.
“They end up charging me with assaulting the police and no report for the man who touch me bamsee. The police-woman even claim that I mek she lose she baby but I don’t know if that is true because she never come to court and testify. I keep going to court, going to court and then the magistrate tell me done the case and I end up paying $60,000.
“I been just want the matter finish because I was frightened. I never went to court or anything so I just plead guilty and I get fine because she was not coming to court to testify,” she added.
“After that I went back and work, but is the same thing over and over. Is like sometimes these men not coming in to do business but just to touch we up. I used to start like getting frighten to go to work because it was like is who guh touch me today and where. You know wah is duh? You know how it does make you feel?” she asked rhetorically.
I asked her what kind of job she now hopes to get.
“Well I wish I could get some cooking job or so, you know. I could cook and then I would be in the kitchen and not around any male or so. I don’t want no domestic work because people does want work you out hard and don’t pay. And security I don’t want work in the night. So if I could get a job in a restaurant or something I would be happy,” she answered.
“I just wish, you know, I did get to finish school and so but that is a whole other story. But I just know I have to work hard so I could provide a better life for me son that is all I want right now,” she told me quietly.
After she was finished speaking to me she returned to the café’s counter to continue talking to the older woman.
“I would talk to the boss lady but I can’t promise you anything, you know, but I would talk to she,” I heard the older woman tell her.
“I know but must put in a good word for me. I does work hard. I would come to work on time and I wouldn’t cause no trouble or anything,” she responded.
As I left the café I wished her well and told her I hoped she got a job at the café or at another establishment.
Women continue to be sexually assaulted and it is not taken seriously. Sometimes you are told you asked for it because of the way you dress, or that you are just a troublemaker because ‘wha is a little touching.’ Or ‘wha happen if de man say he want have sex with you?’ Many times women are told in explicit terms what men desire to do to us and we dare not object because then we are abused in the vilest terms.
While many women are sexually harassed in their workplace the streets are also a danger zone as they not only have to be afraid of being robbed, but will more likely than not face sexual harassment sometimes on a daily basis.
In 2015, local arts-based group, the Witness Project, had launched a huge initiative aimed at bringing awareness to street harassment. This, as well as sexual harassment overall, is a conversation that still needs serious addressing and there should be legislative intervention to stop men from objectifying and violating women on the streets.
Maybe women need to be brave and ensure that some of these men face the judicial system. It could happen if more of us women support our sisters if they take this route instead of being their biggest critics and many times taking the side of men and claiming, ‘she look fuh it’. Sexual harassment cannot be addressed if sisters do not support sisters, more and more we need to speak up and support.
