To quite enjoy it when a man says "while you;re done there" or similar?

[create]

Obviously if he meant it or was doing it to make me uncomfortable, that would be very different, but when it's a joke, isn't that banter and therefore fun?

I quite often set the lines up for my colleagues to knock down - it's great seeing them so pleased with themselves for coming up with a joke I wrote for them! Makes office life far more fun too.

But, I am absolutely confident that I have their respect on a professional basis and I think the fact that I can deal with the banter adds to that respect TBH.

Ha ha ha ha

omg then how can they say that at work as a joke?!? should be reported 2 hr as harrasment.
op its weird and cheap 2 like those kind of comments, from ur work mates of all people

Do they read 'The Sun'?

Yeah, I love it.

My boss called me a "tuppence ha'penny whore" last thursday. How I laughed. Sometimes if I make a mistake, I'll roll my eyes and say " what am I like...?" because I like to set jokes up for my collegues. (The answer is "...A silly slag! Now make the tea" and I get a lovely slap on the arse as well.)

Still...it's all jolly good fun

Oooo are there any jobs going in your office??? Sounds GREAT!!!!!

I am game for a laugh but if a colleague said 'while you're down there' to me I would be tempted to grab his balls, squeeze and twist really hard.

Are you really a bored young man after some wanking material?

I would have to roll out the Death Stare.

'Tis as old as the hills.

DH says it to me all the time

Blimey. I'm 39 and have lived a bit but I've never heard that one. How vile.

Let me guess OP - can you 'give as good as you get'?

We have a fair few 'your mum' jokes in my office - but they are non-gender specific. Actually the boys/men are less likely to go for a joke when aimed at a female, even if we have set them up for it - does that count as discrimination, treating women differently for being girls?

Yes you just say 'you'll have to lend me a microscope first' bad-oom-TSSH

Oh, where to start?

Ok, maybe that was an extreme example of banter, but really all inudendo is harasment, even if I don't feel harassed?

I've worked in a male dominated environment for 20 years and have worked with some of these men for 10+. I would (and have) trust some of them with my life. None of them would ever dare touch me. They are always there if I need professional support (as I am for them). None of them has every actually come on to me.

They say these things because they like and respect me - they are far more polite to people they have utterly no respect for.

But, yes it is as old as the hills, that's why its funny,

my ex used to say this to short women

'They say these things because they like and respect me'

WTF? You are seriously deluded.

It is not funny.

You are acquiescing and promoting sexual harassment in the work place.

Male dominated environment? Wonder why that is then? Grow up, OP.

Hope you are not one of those pathetic women who in a sad effort to be "in with the lads" put up with more and more crap thinking you are in on the joke when really you are the butt of it. Urggh.

OK, so what should I do, rather than laugh with them and enjoy work a bit?

I totally agree that you only banter with people that you like - I am in that position as I also work in an all-male environment and have been there for 15years. But sexual banter is OUT! Completely. Because it changes the easy professional relationship I have with colleagues and makes it instead a quite different, more uncomfortable thing.

Not to mention that is lacking in respect.

And remarkably unfunny.

take them up on it

You can hopefully enjoy work without putting up with such awful behaviour.

Challenge the behaviour at every opportunity.

You don't see the problem, because it isn't one for you create.

'I've worked in a male dominated environment for 20 years'

I was brought up army for 20 years and can hold my own in any male-dominated environment.
However I would hate my 19 year old daughter to have to work in a place like yours, because you have helped sustain a banter and attitude that should have died a natural death over the last two decades. Not all endangered things need saving, blatant sexism is one that should have become extinct by now.

And I suppose they are utterly respectful of other women, and wouldn't dare make comments like this to anyone who doesn't see the "funny" side?

Yes, actually Ahickey - we had a female (very attrative) graduate in her 20s working with us for a few months last year and they were very protective of her.