“I like to drive into all the holes”
Blogger Franka Frei on sexual harassment in corona test centers
© Ergin Yalcin / Getty Images
From sexist comments to contact after testing: On Instagram, blogger Franka Frei draws attention to sexual harassment by employees in Corona test centers. Numerous women contact her with similar experiences.
A corona test is not pleasant, but at the same time very intimate – after all, a complete stranger sticks a stick deep into his nose and mouth. For many people, going to the test already costs a lot of effort anyway. Funny sayings and sexual innuendos by the test staff are all the more inappropriate. Especially women are affected, who respond in large numbers to the Instagram story of blogger Franka Frei, in which she draws attention to the aggressive behavior of some testers. They reported the lewd comments they had heard from employees in test centers:
“Open your mouth, I’m coming”
Says the testing man as he digs through my throat with a stick: “You’ve worked off the gag reflex well.”
Since I hardly had to choke: “You seem to feel at home with your husband.”
With a suggestive facial expression: “But we still have to train.” I’m 14, he’s around 50.
Testers taking a temperature before the vaccination: “Wow, extremely hot.”
“No problem, you look like you could open your mouth wide.”
After testing the nose and throat: “Well which hole was more comfortable?”
I choked something once, the tester: “Well, do you always make your home like this?”
“I like to drive into all the holes.”
“Nice deep inside” in a disgusting tone at the test in Hanover.
With a wink he told me that my nose was so nice and tight.
My friend got a nosebleed while testing. Then the end of the test: “Uh, the Naserl was still virginal. ‘”
“Open your mouth wide and enjoy …”
The tester thanks me for not hitting him and then whispers in my ear: “I would have let you do it.”
After 30 seconds in my nose, the end of the test says: “I won’t stop until the tears come.”
Twice the guy who checked my data has seared me uncomfortably. I could only smile nicely because the guy had my number, my address, my SV …
“Wow, you open your mouth wide, you have a big mouth. I don’t want to be your man.”
All just stupid jokes?
Not at all! Test centers should be safe places for everyone who comes there, Franka Frei comments. Assaulting sayings are more than inappropriate. Nobody has to be treated like that. Especially since, as the test taker, you never know what the person has already experienced and what might trigger such behavior. At the same time, nobody should have to worry that their sensitive data will be misused or for their own safety. Making private contact with the tested person after the test is an absolute no-go. Unfortunately, there can be no question of individual cases.
There were already incidents in Graz in January
As early as January of this year, women reported sexual harassment in a test center in Graz (Austria) to heute.at. Those affected complained that they were confronted with sexist slogans and turned on. But that’s not all: the soldiers are said to have found and contacted the women on social media, reports Nau.ch. Army spokesman Bauer then apologized via Twitter and announced disciplinary proceedings.
This is what you should do if you are being harassed
Be sure to report! Each test center has an operations manager or a person in charge who takes care of quality management there. You can also contact the responsible health department. It is helpful to have the name of the person whom it affects. Often one is too perplexed at first to react appropriately, but even afterwards one should not simply tolerate such inappropriate behavior, but inform the relevant authorities.
Sources: www.instagram.de/frankafrei; www.nau.ch