Cases on Social Issues For Class Discussion - 2nd Edition Textbook Case 6 Safety for Women

CASE SAFETY OF WOMEN ( BOTH AND TRANSGENDER ) AND PEOPLE AT WORK This case for class discussion is about the safety and vulnerability of women , transgender women and gender people , especially in small businesses . We include background information on the social issues . Then , we describe the critical events of a scenario that inspired the discussion and provide discussion prompts . We also include teaching notes and a short bibliography of relevant readings . While actively participating in the case discussion , students can apply learned concepts to real situations , reflect on social issues and use critical thinking and ethical judgement to suggest a course of action for the people described in the case . Case Safety of Women ( Both and Transgender ) and People at Work 81

Background on the Social Issue RED SARAH CELINE SHAN DEIRDRE AND Cis women , transgender women and people often experience violence and sexual harassment on the job ( 2019 Western University , 2022 ) The perpetrators of sexual harassment are often customers ( or patients or workers ) who instigate sexual conversations , sexual jokes , and verbal intimidation ( Western , 2022 ) Transgender women and people also experience and mocking behaviours at work ( 2021 ) In service industries such as retail and hospitality , employees are supposed to remain polite , suppress their feelings and stay in a subservient role in relation to the customers ( 2021 ) This aspect of retail culture , wherein the customer is king , makes it especially for cis women , transgender women and employees to speak up about harassment . Employers in Canada have a legal duty to keep their employees safe and to take steps to avoid employees experiencing any negative effects based on a personal characteristic such as gender ( British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal , Government of Canada , 2022 , 2022 ) However , cis women , transgender women and people are often reluctant to speak up about sexual and other types of harassment at work , as they fear the negative consequences of directly confronting or reporting harassment . Victims of sexual harassment often experience victim blaming , which minimizes the impact of the harassment and leaves victims humiliated , afraid , and unsupported . In summary , employees lack effective strategies for dealing with harassment ( Ayres et , 2009 Del Carmen , 2018 ) and employers are not advocating for or protecting their employees . Background on the Social Issue 83

Figure Woman commuting alone Background on the Social Issue 85 Figure A person commuting by bike Media Woman commuting alone is licensed under a All Rights Reserved license person commuting by bike Vice is licensed under a All Rights Reserved license Background on the Social Issue 87 Scenario for Discussion RED SARAH CELINE SHAN DEIRDRE AND Setting Moose Souvenir Shop ( is a small Canadian souvenir shop located on a short commercial street in a suburb of Vancouver , British Columbia . The company sells a variety of domestic products and locally made gifts and souvenirs . is open days , evenings and weekends , except Mondays . On the same street , some shops close in the evening , though the pub , liquor store and bookstore stay open . There is a large carpark near the store that is not well lit at night . 88 Scenario for Discussion

Figure Gift Shop 90 Scenario for Discussion Figure Retail Worker Characters Mamie Garcia ( Sales Associate ) Marnie is a black Canadian of heritage . She is in Creole , Spanish , and English . She is attentive and conscientious at . She eventually wants to sell her own knitted crafts through an online store . John Harrison ( Sales Manager ) John is a white Canadian of European heritage and was born and raised in Vancouver , He can speak English . He has worked in retail for years and has been working at as a sales manager for about one year . Media Gift Shop Rachel Claire is licensed under a All Rights Reserved license Retail Worker Filkins is licensed under a All Rights Reserved license 92 Scenario for Discussion

Critical Events to Inspire Discussion RED SARAH CELINE SHAN DEIRDRE AND The situation The owner trusts John to manage the store and is not usually there . Unbeknownst to the owner , John regularly leaves shifts early or shows up late and trusts his sales associate Mamie to run the store in his absence . Because John is a sales manager , he receives a salary and does not need to clock in and out of work , which allows this behaviour to go undetected . This leaves Mamie to struggle to do everything manage stock , help customers and cash out at the end of the day . At times , Mamie feels unsafe , particularly when she has to lock up on her own , walk to the parking lot and then drive to the nearby bank to make the cash deposit in the bank night slot . Mamie does not want to tell the owners about having too many responsibilities because she fears retaliation from John and does not want to lose her job . Recently , a local man who frequents the pub next door has been coming in and bothering Mamie at work in the evenings when she is alone . He makes her uncomfortable with his compliments and holds out his cellphone , asking for her number and private details about her schedule . She tries to stay professional and says she is busy . Mamie has tried to discuss the issue with John before , but he brushes it off and says to be polite to the customers . The event One night , after John is long gone , Mamie locks up the shop by herself and walks to her car while carrying the cash deposit bag under her arm disguised in an old shopping bag . She notices that the same man is hanging around near the carpark . As Mamie is cautiously walking in the parking area to her car , the man walks up to her and asks whether she wants to go to a street festival on the weekend . He pretends to be begging . Mamie declines his invitation . Then , the man demands to know when she is available to go out with him , stating that he has already given her your three chances . Mamie tries to walk away from him , but the man grabs her arm . Mamie twists away and starts to walk quickly to her car . He says , Hey , wait ! very loudly . The man grabs her shoulder from behind and tries to give her a hug . Mamie forcefully frees herself and runs back to the store . The man shouts something after her that sounds like swearing . Mamie locks herself in the store and calls John to tell him what has happened . Dialogue between john and Mamie John Hello ?

Mamie John , I am sorry to bother you so late , but I ran back to the store . I had to . That same guy was following me and grabbing me . I had the money , too . I did go to the bank . John You are in the store ?

Did he take the money ?

63 Critical Events to Inspire Discussion 93 Mamie No , I ran back to the store and am locked in here . I really scared . Theres no one around . I told you before he wouldn leave me alone . John Where are you ?

Mamie Well , I in the back . just shaking . John So , you dont know if he still there . Its probably just some drunk guy from the pub who wandered off . Mamie I dont know , but I dont want to go out . He keeps bothering me . I already told you . He keeps coming in and bothering me . Now he grabbed me . I ca stop shaking . John Well , if you wont go out to your car , what do you suggest ?

Mamie I dont know ! John Well , I already at home in . It would take an hour to come back . Let me see Mamie What should I do ?

Should I call the police for an escort for halfa block ?

Or , I dont know , should I report it ?

I dont know the guy . He didn hit me . Can I report it ?

John . How about you wait 20 minutes ?

Then , call me back . Mamie All right . I guess so . Mamie locks up the bank deposit , even though she is worried about getting into trouble for not depositing the money . She waits a full 30 minutes and goes back outside with her phone in her hand . There is no one around , so she drives home . She texts John that she is home , but the money has not been deposited . 94 I 63 Critical Events to Inspire Discussion

Discussion What should happen next ?

RED SARAH CELINE DEIRDRE AND What should the employee , Mamie , do ?

Should Mamie have demanded that John return to the store to escort her out safely ?

Should Mamie have called a friend to come get her ?

Should Mamie a report with the police ?

Should Mamie have a discussion with John about staying at the store in the evening instead of sneaking out early ?

Should Mamie inform John the next day before reporting this to the police to protect the souvenir reputation and image ?

Should Mamie call or email the owners the next day and tell them everything that has been going on ?

Should she alert the rest of the women at work ?

Should she organize a course ?

Other ideas ?

What should the manager , John , do after Mamie tells him what happened ?

Should John have returned to the store to help Mamie ?

Should John help Mamie a police report ?

Should John ask the owners to install cameras and hire a security guard ?

Should John organize customer service training ?

Should John organize safety training ?

Should John beg Mamie to stay quiet about his absences and promise he will always be around to help her close from now on ?

Should John request that Mamie work only during the day ?

Other ideas ?

What should the owners do they find out about the incident ?

Should the owners disregard the problem ?

Should the owners reexamine their employer obligations ?

Should the owners install cameras outside the store in the parking lot ?

Can the owners ban certain people from the store ?

Should the owners set up a security system ?

Should they hire security guards ?

Should they tell John to implement safety and training ?

Other ideas ?

Discussion What should happen next ?

95 Teaching Notes RED SARAH CELINE SHAN DEIRDRE AND Note to teachers This scenario deals with sensitive and controversial issues . Discussions may be upsetting for some students . Please provide context and background information about the sexual harassment of women , transgender women and binary people and safety at work , especially background information that challenges common assumptions . This background information will help prepare students for a robust but respectful discussion . Please see the background information above and the bibliography below or seek other sources from your own diversity and inclusion specialists , advisors , or educational supports . What will students discuss ?

As relevant to course learning outcomes , students will discuss any of the following bias diversity , equity and inclusion , belonging , justice , dignity , human rights gender gender identity and expression harassment crime sexual harassment bystander behaviours victim blaming worker protection worker safety worker night shifts retail industry practices social service safety policies and procedures management professionalism , organizational development , leadership human resources policy making and enforcement employer obligations organizational culture other relevant topics 96 65 Teaching Notes

Students may suggest various courses of action for the characters in the case . Students may argue that Mamie should report the incidents to the police . Students may argue that Mamie should speak to the manager informally . Students may argue that Mamie should a formal written incident report with the manager and argue for the of doing so . Students may argue that it is the responsibility of the employer to implement workplace harassment policies and suggest ways these policies and strategies could be implemented . Students may argue that it is the responsibility of the employer to implement more formal safety proper training . Students may choose to argue that bad customer behaviour will happen and the employer can not control it they can only encourage customer service personnel to deal with it politely and calmly . Other ideas . 65 Teaching Notes 97

References and Bibliography RED SARAH CELINE SHAN DEIRDRE , AND References Ayres , Leaper , 2009 ) Individual and Situational Factors Related to Young Women Likelihood of Confronting Sexism in Their Lives . Sex Roles 61 , Del Carmen , Francisca , 2018 ) To Confront Versus not to Confront Perception of Sexual Harassment . The European Journal of Psychology Applied to Legal Context ( 2018 ) 10 ( A . 2021 ) Doing and negotiating transgender on the front line Customer abuse , and stigma in the food retail sector . Work , Employment and Society , 35 ( 0950017020977331 , A . 2019 , Women face risks . Canadian Occupational Safety . Western University ( 2022 , April ) Harassment and Violence in Canadian Workplaces It Not Part of the Job . Western Centre for Research and Education on Violence Against Women and Children the Canadian Labour Congress . research Bibliography Ayres , Leaper , 2009 ) Individual and Situational Factors Related to Young Women Likelihood of Confronting Sexism in Their Lives . Sex Roles 61 , British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal ( Human Rights and Duties in Employment . Del Carmen , Francisca , 2018 ) To Confront Versus not to Confront Perception of Sexual Harassment . The European Journal of Psychology Applied to Legal Context ( 2018 ) 10 ( Hamilton , 2022 ) Generally a lie Transgender consumer experiences and responses to symbolic violence . The Journal of Consumer Affairs . Advance online publication . Government of Canada . 2022 ) Rights in the workplace . A . 2021 ) Doing and negotiating transgender on the front line Customer abuse and stigma in the food retail sector . Work , Employment and Society , 35 ( 0950017020977331 98 References and Bibliography

, Evans , 2013 ) Customer abuse to service workers an of its social creation within the service economy . Work , Employment and Society , 27 ( 0950017012468501 , A . 2019 , Women face risks . Canadian Occupational Safety . Smith , 2021 , July ) What can retailers do to meaningfully support transgender customers and employees ?

Retail Week . Women against violence against women ( Gender diverse support services . Western University ( 2022 , April ) Harassment and Violence in Canadian Workplaces It Not Part of the Job . Western Centre for Research and Education on Violence Against Women and Children the Canadian Labour Congress . Western University research . 2022 ) Workplace rights . References and Bibliography 99