#MeToo Experience: Sex for Job

I am posting this on 8th March which is recognized globally as International Women's Day. 

 

This post is to bring awareness to some of the experiences of women when they seek employment.

Sex for jobs is a huge canker in our society. I remember whiles doing my national service, I asked someone if he knew of job opportunities and if they could help me get a job through their network. He knew I was brilliant and I was more than capable to do the work I was looking for. 

 

He offered to help me but he let me know that I would have to sleep with two people for the opportunity. 

There was the opportunity to work with either a well-paying state bank or a not so-well paying state organization. [I have intentionally omitted the names of the organizations from this write up]. Just as an aside, these people were not workers in the  institutions but they were middle men who will help me get the job.

 

Anyways, back to the story, he further mentioned that my skills in the bedroom with them was going to determine which institution I got placed in. If I was good in bed then I will be placed in the well-paying state bank and if I wasn’t that good then I will work with the not so-well paying state organization. If I was up for it, he was ready and will connect me with them.  I told him no, thank you. There was no way I was going to do such a thing, not after I graduated top of my class and having dreams.  

 

Most men in power have abused and keep abusing their powers for ages and that is why we scream equity and fairness. People need to stop victim blaming women and not ignore the power dynamics and how power is used as a tool to sexually abuse women in the recruitment process. Shame on all of you that keep abusing your power and sexually abusing women. May you all be exposed. 

May be one day, I will be able to talk about and share my #metoo on the job.

Today and always, if you are on a hiring team ensure your hiring processes are equitable.

If you are in a position of power, please do not abuse it.

Women experience lots of challenges including sexual abuse in the recruitment process.

Today being International Women’s Day, learn to embrace equity in your recruitment process (hiring, retention and promotion).

Focus on who can do the job and not their gender identification or how you can manipulate it.

If you have a problem and always want to abuse women before you give them jobs, seek professional help.

I share my story not because  it's easy

I share my stories to heal

I share my stories to support others

I share my stories to empathize 

I share my stories to own my narrative 

and I share my stories because I can

~Animwaa Obeng-Akrofi

Please share your stories of #metoo experiences in the comment section. You can share it anonymously or you can send it to my email and I can share if for you if you want.

 

And until next time, know that 

You are enough, you are worthy!

Learn to Live life in the present 

And know that nothing last forever so everything will be fine!