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Sexual Harassment and Assault at Hooters

So I was talking with a girl today and she told me about some of the stuff she has to deal with at her workplace (Hooters). I was surprised, honestly, I thought that the information I was working with (about Hooters) was all just bull shit stereotypes, because I haven't actually ate there before. She said that her boss pulled her shirt down (exposing much of herself) to see what kind of bra she was wearing. She explained that the reason for that conduct is they have a dress code, and I guess they can only wear tan colored bras, but still that is a highly inappropriate way of dealing with it. She provided several other examples, but this is one that really stood out in my mind, because of the people involved.

I am wondering if anyone on here knows anything about Hooters, and maybe the details of a contractual agreement employees are in (I am loosely knowledgeable about the consent form employees have to sign, basically to make harassment impossible between employee and customer). I spoke with her about sitting down with a lawyer, and I told her I would be more than happy to help her find one. She didn't seem to support the idea. It may have been wrong to pressure her to speak with a lawyer (because I did, unashamedly; at the moment), but I felt strongly compelled. All I want is for her to have options, and having a boss or manager who sexually assaults you -- being harassed by the customers is one thing, but being sexually assaulted by your boss is an entirely different ball game.

Honestly, I just find it obscene that any guy could look at a Hooters Girl and see how their job is essentially to be walking tits and ass so to serve perverts who don't know how to do a google search for porn -- how someone could see that, and still deny that employee a safe place under occupational professionalism; that is sick and I cannot comprehend how someone can do that and sleep at night.

If anyone has answers to some of these questions, I'd appreciate it very much. There is just something about people who use their authority/power to do obscene things to those who are weaker or less fortunate -- it just rubs me the wrong way. Being an employee anywhere should not make you subject to the sexual whims of your employer.

Also, just in general, I'd advise boycotting Hooters. It's pathetic that a restaurant chain is essentially based on female sex appeal. And I suppose it's sad that some people haven't managed to overcome some teenage captivation with disproportionate body parts.

I don't understand how someone could find going to Hooters sexually attractive or stimulating, like these girls would never even talk to most of the guys who hit on them, they are not smiling because they think that guy is funny, witty, intelligent, hot, or cute -- they are smiling and playing along cause it's their fuckin' job. It's just as personal as the guy who collects your garbage on Tuesday, it's a job. How people manage to look beyond the counterfeit nature of nearly all the social interactions in a Hooters establishment actually are, I don't know.

You know what? Maybe boycotting is a little radical, how about a new trend. People could write on the receipt the restaurant keeps, "Here for food, not boobs." Just an idea. I like that idea more, because it is the direction of changing Hooters, and not killing it. What do you guys think?

Okay, so I started off with a simple question, but I ended up just ranting (gosh, well, whatever). I highly considered cutting out most of what I said, but screw it. Anyways, thanks for reading if you got this far, and I'm sorry if you feel like I wasted your time.

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Joseph P on March 17, 2013 at 5:55pm

Maybe an indecent exposure charge along with public intoxication perhaps, but I would think it would have to be an explicit or overtly sexual act to land someone on the offenders registry.

But, that's often not the case. In a country in which an 18 year-old boy can get convicted of statutory rape for having sex with his 17 year-old girlfriend, then continue to have to register as a sex offender, after they're married, because he had sex with her in a state that doesn't include an additional age-proximity law on top of the hard-line of age of consent ... you're going to get some fucked up results that any sane person would look at and scream.

Permalink Reply by Robert Brown on March 17, 2013 at 1:54pm

You are absolutely right about sexual assault being sexual assault. What got me going was how upset you were it was happening at Hooters, and yes, I understand still that it is sexual assault, but my overall point is that people should be more logical of their choices and accept the repercussions of their actions and be prepared to defend themselves if the unthinkable or thinkable happens.

If you choose to work in an establishement that allows you to be objectified like Hooters, then extra crap is going to happen rather than at say IHOP. Either be prepared to counter it or deal with it if it happens, but know it is more likely.

Sexual assault is tramatic and wrong in any place and that womans treatment was wrong. But to me, complaining about the sexual goings on at hooters is like complaining coffee you spill in your lap burned you, it is expected by the name. To me rather than change the atmosphere of hooters to a non-sexual one, which I think is impossible, simply choose to eat and work in another location and hope that the lack of participation causes the restaurant to go away.

I also understand that a college student or any single working woman can possibly make more money as a waitress at hooters than IHOP and that will influence their decision on where to work, but a choice is still being made and we must all be prepared to deal with the outcomes of our decisions. Either by being strong and fighting back or seeking out help to ensure we are treated fairly and justly. Our lives and their outcomes are completely in our own hands (decisions) as atheists. I think choosing to work at a place like hooters is only asking for trouble, so be prepared if that is the choice.

Permalink Reply by Joseph P on March 17, 2013 at 6:00pm

Working in an establishment in which you're objectified is not even close to synonymous with consenting to sexual assault. You're consenting to being looked at in your skimpy outfit. The moment someone grabs some part of your anatomy, you should have them thrown out. If they're persistent about it or become belligerent, you could consider having them arrested for assault.

Permalink Reply by Joseph P on March 17, 2013 at 6:10pm

Christ, man. Most strip clubs have a no-touching policy, and yet you think that girls working at Hooters have consented to being molested?

Permalink Reply by Joseph P on March 17, 2013 at 5:49pm