Making STEM a better place for women

[indieFan]

I perceive myself to be socially awkward in many situations, particularly when it comes to dealing with men. (I'm well over 18.) I am currently working to change this with a therapist.

My question is, has anyone/team ever had a meeting with the entire team and discussed what behaviors a male will engage in and how the females will respond and vice-versa? We laugh at comedies like Two and a Half Men when a character is hitting on someone, but do we ever talk about it and how it actually affects someone? Perhaps this is how we start to break down the "creepiness" factor.

As for personal experience, I was working at my day job and approached by someone. I declined his invitation to do an activity together. Several months later, I was approached again to do another activity. I again declined. This time, I also spoke to my team lead who spoke to my manager. The mere fact that I was uncomfortable with this person and it was two events over a several month period meant that HR got involved. It was not my choice to have HR involved, I just wanted to know how to handle it.

Males and females need to understand there are consequences to every action, regardless if it's the one they want to happen. The only question becomes what the consequences will be.