The Cost of Serving
Many American women who are trying to make ends meet often find themselves in the service industry.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, they make up more than half of its workforce. In the service industry, 70% of women experience sexual harassment, half of them on a weekly basis (NPR).
What sets service work apart from other employment are its demands of emotional labor and identifying into the role, all with the intended purpose to please clientele in exchange for financial security. This allows sexual harassment to prevail in service work more than any other work setting. As women and girls make up a majority of the service workforce, beginning as early as high school, more attention must be directed toward their voices and stories to ensure their safety.