These women are trying to break me.

[achtung_circus]

Understand, I work in a primarily female department. There's 5 female officers, 2 female support staff, a female lawyer and our overseer is male.

The women take great pleasure in trying to freak me out. Whether it's lunch conversations about the relative merits of various dildos, the fellatio contests involving bananas or their deepest personal issues, they are either treating me as one of the girls or they are trying to drive me insane. I'm not sure which.

I can't say anything when the conversation gets raunchy, and they know it.

Case in point, today I was passing the dispatcher today, in a hurry and preoccupied. She was on the phone and the radio started squawking. Trying to help I told the caller to "hold one". She responded, smart-ass like, "Sue, your voice has changed". I said to the world at large "I'm not fucking Sue". ADJECTIVE! "Sue" covers the phone with her hand, looks at me all petulant and says "so that's what you're telling people, now, sniff."

I am screwn. How can I respond? It's sexual harassment, I say. I don't mind it, but I need to be able to take the wind from their sails occasionally.

[BuelahWitch]

1. Um, yes, it IS sexual harassment

Definitely a hostile work environment. Even if you enjoy it, it's not professional behavior.
Are there not laws about sexual harassment in the workplace in Canada?

[achtung_circus]

2. Absotively.

Except 3 of them are lesbians, how sexual is that, and 7 of them are in healthy relationships, the 8th and I are negotiating.

I'm not harassed, I just want a safe way to respond when the conversation turns in that direction. Our normal workday conversations would make many people sick- that's the kind of work we do.

[BuelahWitch]

4. It doesn't matter if they're lesbians or not

It's still sexual harassment. They are deliberately trying to make you uncomfortable.
If you don't like it, come out and say something. Nothing rude, just something casual to let them know it's not cool. If that doesn't work, then get management involved. You may not want to do that, but if they won't respect your feelings, then you need to go over their heads.
We used to have that sort of banter at one of my jobs. There was one fellow there who didn't like it, and it had to stop. It didn't bother most of us, but generally when one person complains the whole place has to comply.

[Nicole]

5. Danger ahead!

"the 8th and I are negotiating."

If things don't work out with #8 be prepared for them to take it to the next level. You will be totally screwn then. :scared:

[riverdeep]

3. I'm sorry I don't have any advice

your post just jumped a nerve in me somehow. Raunchy humour is fine as long as people agree to it, then, regardless of whether it is illegal or not, is just rude.

[achtung_circus]

6. You may mistake my dilemma.

I'm as raunchy as the others, it's just when the conversation turns in one direction I need safer ideas on how to hit back.

I'm quite capable of holding my own otherwise.

[JVS]

7. That is sexual harassment and you should fuck them over about it.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

8. is it oppressive to you? or do you find it amusing?

theres a lot of off color jokes at my workplace too. none of it constitutes harrassment since no one is made to feel unwelcome.

[Zuiderelle]

9. That IS sexual harassment and you should tell them to stop.

[MissMillie]

10. It is sexual harassment

but I think you're going to have to either "don't mind it" or "mind it". People can't be guessing at what is or isn't acceptable behavior.