Toronto restaurant Weslodge today issued an apology (of sorts) for what former pastry-chef Kate Burnham describes as chronic, tolerated, sexual harassment in their kitchen.
Inspired by Burnham’s bravery, I started to let loose on Twitter.
A spotlight on sexual harassment in kitchens is a great first step resulting from a terrible thing.
— Jen Agg (@TheBlackHoof) June 13, 2015
At first the flood of support was overwhelming. But I noticed that my colleagues in Toronto’s restaurant industry were keeping mum. Then this dude, Harrison Hennick, the chef at Furlough, told me and everyone else to just shut up.
Others tried to police me for my choice of venue.
@LadySnarksalot @TheBlackHoof this is a serious problem and the best solution you can think of is to make noise on Twitter?
— J 🙁 (@G33D33) June 13, 2015
Whatever.
Important to note that it wasn’t just guys throwing shade on this whole topic. Check out the internalized misogyny displayed by The Montreal Gazette’s restaurant critic Lesley Chesterman. Her Facebook reaction to Kate Burnham’s workplace harrassment: “why didn’t she quit? Not hard to find a job plating desserts in a restaurant.”
She followed that up on Twitter with more of the same:
.@jensfuel @cnutsmith As for my take? Ok. Why did Burnham stay?Why did she put up with that treatment from those Cro-Magnons for so long?1/5
— Lesley Chesterman (@lesleychestrman) June 17, 2015
.@jensfuel @cnutsmith I was sexually harassed when I was a chef when I was 19 and 23. You either deal with it or you get out. 2/5
— Lesley Chesterman (@lesleychestrman) June 17, 2015
ANYHOW, I started talking about organizing a conference to deal with sexism in the restaurant industry. I called it:
KITCHEN BITCHES: smashing the patriarchy one plate at a time
This helpful bro-chef objected to my language.
@TheBlackHoof doesn’t using the term “bitches” just play into the whole misogynist storyline?
— Alexander (@ChefAlex) June 15, 2015
He eventually came around.
Some pushback continued, but I was encouraged by support like this:
@TheBlackHoof I made a bingo card of all the stupid responses you’ve gotten and will get. Should kill about 5 minutes pic.twitter.com/ibqosW3wf4
— Robin LeBlanc (@TheThirstyWench) June 15, 2015
The conference idea picked up steam and a slew of media picked up on the effort. This of course led to the accusation that I was exploiting Kate’s story.
Jen Agg, everybody. Never one to miss an oppoortunity to turn one woman’s harrassment into an ad for @TheBlackHoof. pic.twitter.com/i8CHeAimXH
— legalbagel (@legalbagel) June 16, 2015
Word of the effort reached the lovely Hugh Acheson:
@TheBlackHoof wonder if any of your celeb chef followers will support?
— Dave Lee (@davidsunlee) June 14, 2015
The upshot is this conference is happening, on September 3rd at Revival in Toronto. Here’s the plan so far:
Helen Rosner will speak on responsible journalism
Amanda Cohen is going to discuss how the whole system is broken
Jared Bland will moderate a panel that includes Jessica Koslow, Hugh Acheson, Sophia Banks and others.
Please come. Website will be kitchenbitches.ca and email is hello@kitchenbitches.ca
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Jen Agg owns the Black Hoof in Toronto. Follow her @TheBlackHoof
