Discrimination no - Harrassment-yes.

Noun 1. sexual discriminationsexual discrimination - discrimination (usually in employment) that excludes one sex (usually women) to the benefit of the other sex sexism - discriminatory or abusive behavior towards members of the opposite sex. No I have not been discriminated against, but thats not in my vocabulary, like a lot of ism’s. If I ever run into it, I would not permit it. I would make it known to whomever that it is happening and it is not right. I have experienced sexual harassment and I told the person never to slap my ass again, with my finger in his face. (I hope he had a daughter, that will remedy his fault) maybe. I admire that Hillary is not stepping down. I’m sure she is getting a lot of pressure. She has to prove her strength and dedication to get the position she wants. I think everyone is testing her, the county, her party and woman are watching closely. I think she’s the best candidate and it’s great that she happens to be a woman. But I’m not voting for her because she is a woman.

Early in the 80’s during the recession, being a single mother and was thrilled to find any employment, I was hired by a major tire manufacturer to work the press floor. I was one of 8 women working predominately male industry. The press I was working, I had to have safety pull straps on my wrist for safety. A black male would come behind me and run his hands up through my thighs and grab my crotch, I would jump and turn to see what was happening and a group of males would be laughing themselves silly. I reported to my foreman, he was drinking buddy to this perpretator and he told me that this was my fault because my jeans revealed my succulent ass. I was terrified, and afraid what my children may face without my income. I was harrassed extensively for 2 weeks, finally this perpretator approached me for the last time, and I was waiting for him. I pretended to have my safety straps on, and when he got within armshot, I placed a bushing in my hand, made a fist and pounced on him so fast, I beat the holy crap out of him. Being a victim of rape, I took all the pain and grief out on this jerk.I bet he will never touch anyone else again, As soon as I finished, all the males stood there with their mouths dropped open, I would have turned on them too, they ran away and at that moment, I felt a invisible hug and a voice told me to just walk out and never return and he would take care of me. I walked out and it felt like the world was lifted off my shoulders. On my drive home, I was crying, wonderering how I was going to support myself and my children and again, a voice said I will provide. And provide he did, I was able to find employment within a week and it provided me the opportunity to get into skilled trades and provide for my children. I am not proud of what I done to this person, but it was what I had to do at the time. The company tried several times to have me return, making all these promises, but I told them to shove it. These men were never reprimanded.I believe they were afraid I would file suit, but the man upstairs took care of me and kept his promise to me. That far outweighs what any judicial could have gained for my life.

As a human resource director for a manufacturing firm, I was responsible for preparing the salary schedule as part of the budgeting process. Every year the wage surveys showed that our female middle managers were underpaid in comparision to our male middle managers. I had to fight every year and every year I inched the female salaries closer to parity. Fortunately, we were subject to affirmative action audits which I used to motivate change. After ten years of this I had the female salaries at parity. I know this cost me in terms of my relationship with the senior management but it was worth it and I am proud of that accomplishment. The bill recently voted down by Congress to reestablish the original statute of limitations (the time limit to file from the current 180 days after the discrimination first took place back to 180 days after you have knowledge that the discrimination took place) to file pay discrimination claims is a travesty. I know from experience that pay discrimination is common practice and without a stick to shake it won’t change. Have you ever wondered why many companies have a policy against discussing your salary with other employees?

My boss wanted me to come to the office on Sunday which was not a regular working day for this company. I sensed what he wanted from me and said that I would not come in. He fired me. I collected unemployment and enjoyed every minute of being home with my small child. I am retired now but was so used to being descriminated against. First in the old country because I was a woman only, and after I came to the U.S., and I spoke English, people assumed that if you had an accent that you were stupid. It made me stronger. For every job I ever held, they needed two people to replace me. I encouraged my daughter to get as much education as possible so she can hold her own. She did.

Dr. Klein needs to find another place to vent…. his son getting into law school, and having the means to pay for it, tells the real story of discrimination. Still a man’s world, especially where I work, in restaurant kitchens. I’ve been contacted for interviews, and then they find out I am female, and older, and the interview lasts all of three minutes.