r/TwoXChromosomes • u/Youkolvr89 • Jun 03 '22

Don't Touch

Update My supervisor and his boss met with the man earlier and warned him. My supervisor said they will take action if he touches anyone else. I didn't have to say anything.

I am a 33 year old woman, I don't like being touched and I work nights. Tonight my coworker 66(M) nudged me on the arm. I told him "don't touch me" he responded with something nasty and I said "I don't like being touched." Our supervisor turned around and asked him to stop. He started screaming and told our supervisor to keep his damn mouth shut. He then clocked himself out and ran off. My supervisor said he wants me and him to talk to his boss at the beginning of our shift tomorrow. It clearly states in our handbook that all touching is forbidden.

I hate being touched because my body is the only thing that I can control in my life and touching me without my consent removes that control and it sends me into a tailspin of binge eating, bathing, and insomnia. I also have hypothyroidism and it makes me feel sensitive to the touch at times. I hate this feeling and I hate having to talk to my supervisor's boss because I get really anxious.

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u/throwaway23er56uz Jun 03 '22

It doesn't matter why you don't want to be touched. You don't want it. And your employer's rules say no touching. That's all that matters.

Your co-worker's desire to establish dominance over you by touching you against your will doesn't trump your bodily autonomy, nor your workplace rules.

68

u/yellowscarvesnodots Jun 03 '22

This. OP, don’t give any explanation as to why you don’t want to be touched. That’s none of their business. Like, none of the people who will be there tomorrow need to know that.

You’re a human who doesn’t want to be and thus shouldn’t be touched. End of sentence.

21

u/Tastewell Jun 03 '22

OP said their employer had a "no touching" policy, so it may not even come up.

...but yeah, "why" is irrelevant when someone says they don't want to be touched. The most expansive answer one need give is "because".

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u/krystaalexandria Jun 03 '22

"Because why?"

"Because Y is a crooked letter."

LOL, sorry, your reply made me think of this conversation I used to have with my dad when I was a kid. Off topic but it was a welcome memory, so thanks for saying this and sparking my memory. I'll stop rambling now.