I am a female Asian American civilian employee who works for a sheriff’s department in California. My experience at work has been marked by discrimination, bullying, racism, retaliation, workplace violence, and an overall lack of acknowledgement and protection from my supervisors.

I have reported several incidents to sworn personnel in supervisory positions, but they were downplayed and minimized. In addition, I was a witness in an internal affairs investigation and was not protected from retaliation. I witnessed Asian people seeking help  from law enforcement and denied help because of their accent or language barrier. When I spoke out against this, I was ganged up on and my reports of discrimination dismissed.

I had a co-worker mock me in front of supervisors and other co-workers. I was told that I eat dogs and that chinese people use rat meat at their restaurants. A co-worker mocked the Asian language and culture. I as an Asian female was also expected to be submissive to bullying and male co-worker’s advances. Sexually inappropriate comments were also made toward a female Asian co-worker by a male co-worker. The male co-worker stated that the Asian female trainee had the body of a 12 year old boy and that if he f*$#%ed her, he would break her. He also stated that all female Asians in the department are whores. A male Asian co-worker was also referred to as “weak” and “a joke.” 

It continues to be scary to speak out because the retaliation is ongoing and never ending, but I’ve gathered the courage to do so in the greater hopes of preventing someone else from enduring the discrimination, harassment, and abuse that I experienced. We deserve respect and to be treated equally.

My experience in civil service has led me to develop an entire list of ways we can fight discrimination and help make it a thing of the past. Know your rights and do your research. Seek outside counsel. Help loved ones who may be suffering in silence because they don’t want to cause trouble or be a burden. Pick your battles and document everything. Write notes for yourself, send emails, and have a paper trail at work. Be persistent and firm when necessary. Get certified training to protect your family. Take care of yourself physically by exercising and taking on a physical hobby. Learn about situational awareness, and do not be oblivious to your surroundings. 

If you experience harassment, report it immediately. React quickly and seek help from a supervisor you trust. Seek a restraining order if necessary. Allow time for an investigation to take place, and ask questions and take notes, including the date, time, location, and officer’s name. Submit a report to Stand with Asian Americans. Whenever you speak to someone over the phone regarding the complaint, document the time, date and what was discussed. If you are being asked to be recorded, invest in your own recording device and ask if you can also record the interview or conversation.