A Steaming Cup of Sexism
By Isabel Rhodes
I, as many other college and high school students do, work at a coffee hut. In the 15 by 10-foot space we move around the hut like puppets on strings making drinks and food for hours on end. My elbows get sore from leaning against the windowsill, my heels tired and cold. Coffee grounds and syrup stick to my skin while burrito grease clings to my face and seeps into my pores as the oven beeps and the grinder whirrs and the costumers tap their mouths as they try to remember their orders. In this moment, a barista doesn’t feel like a flashy-feathered bird trying to attract a mate, or a cat in heat, yowling up and down an alleyway.
Though for some, the purpose of a coffee hut is not the latte nor the sub, but instead an exciting chance to verbally harass. I have countless anecdotes I could share, but after a while it would feel repetitive, so instead let me tell you one. There was a man who’d come through once or twice a day, who made comments about our bras, and asked us to be his house wives. He winked and giggled despite the cold glares we’d give back. It was only until he told my colleague that he’d like to see her naked when he finally got banned.
It should be no surprise that places employed mainly by young girls receive perverse consumers. But equal in sexism, homophobia runs rampant. Did you know there are several coffee huts in Fairbanks that will not hire men? Their resumes get thrown away because hut owners know what people come for, and it’s not men who can steam milk and pull shots. The coffee hut I work at is progressive as they come, and I’ve worked alongside many guys who can make coffee as well as any. Though when I work with them, I’ve had costumers complain and ask for me to make their drinks instead. When asked what their issues is, it’s often, “I came to see a pretty girl.” But we’ve also heard a few fearful gripes about the possibility of male employees dipping their genitals in the drinks, usually followed by a homophobic slur.
These customers seem to think a man must be gay if he’s making coffee and that it is a threat to their own sexuality. If they accept a drink from a man, then they are somehow performing a sexual act, thus making them gay. Because to many people, there is something inherently sexual about making coffee, specifically at huts. This fear of gay men and discriminative hiring doesn’t happen as often at cafes or restaurants; male waiters and bartenders are very common. This hyper sexualization of coffee huts is perpetuated even more with huts that have bikini baristas—not that those are bad places, but they do cement the idea that getting a coffee at a hut is a sexual transaction. Did I mention I work with high schoolers?
Another issue with this is that the most attractive people will be getting hired. Gender and looks are so heavily valued that a myriad of people are instantly barred from working at these huts that are known for making egregious amounts of tips. It isn’t fair to those seeking jobs, nor is it fair to those who work there and become accustomed to this over-sexualized culture.
I had a coworker who was stalked by a regular, and when she told management they said, “Sorry, women have it hard.” But said nothing to the regular and they were allowed to keep coming back. It is so accepted that women have it hard, that it desensitizes people to the reality of what is going on. The lack of empathy, because actual empathy would cost precious pennies, is teaching young girls to look down, smile, and pretend they didn’t hear or see anything. Teaches them to accept this treatment because, hey, we’re all getting paid.
But buying a three-dollar coffee doesn’t give one the right to comment on a barista’s body. Tipping 30 dollars doesn’t make it alright for someone to tell a barista they like them better with blonde hair. The workers are not supposed to be the commodity, the food and espresso is. So, leave your reviews on those, not our sex appeal.