The View from a Drawbridge

Here’s the thing (yeah, yeah, there’s always a thing): those who chafe at being politically correct are people who don’t care about anyone’s feelings other than their own, so there’s really no point in arguing with them. But.

There are moments when I’m given the choice of either biting my tongue clean off or speaking up, and in that case I will speak up every single time, because, sorry, I like my tongue. I’d like to hold on to it for a while longer if at all possible.

Case in point: the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Calendar that showed up at my place of work a few years ago. Granted, I am in a male dominated workplace, but does that mean I am forced to watch them slobber over silicone and collagen all shift long? Really? Do I have to be made to feel uncomfortable so that they can feed their testosterone?

I could go on and on about the objectification of women, blah, blah, blah, you’ve heard it and dismissed it all before. But in this case I’m talking about me and what is brought into my world. And it is, after all, all about me. Or rather, it should be as much about me as it is about you.

I don’t have a problem with people having these calendars in the privacy of their own homes. They can wallpaper their bedroom ceilings with them for all I care. But in a work environment, I don’t think it’s too much to ask that a portion of your employees not be forced to feel awkward.

When I brought it up, my boss at the time, whom I don’t miss, decided I was being a silly and hypersensitive little girl. Rather than handling it discreetly and professionally, just telling the employee in question that it was inappropriate and needed to be taken down, instead he said that Barbara was whining about the calendar so it had to go. This turned me into the bad guy and the trouble maker. Thanks boss. Way to go.

I’m always befuddled when I walk into a place of business and am confronted with one of these calendars. Really, can’t you hold off for just 8 hours and look at these things at home? Is it that hard to control yourself? Are you trying to alienate a portion of your customers, or are you just stupid? I’m never sure which is the case, but neither scenario bodes well for my repeat patronage. I may not speak up in that situation, but I sure as hell vote with my feet.

Then there are those ubiquitous naked women mud flaps that you see on semi-trucks. Who thinks that’s a good idea? I can only assume that these reside mainly in the realm of independent truckers, because I can’t believe that any large company wants this as part of their corporate image. But isn’t that sort of like shooting yourself in the foot if you’re an independent trucker? Because you sure aren’t going to be hauling my products while sporting those mud flaps. No way, no how.

When your very livelihood depends on not offending people, why is it so important for you to go there? Why is it so difficult to take the high road? I just don’t get it.