After working in a pub for a while I have discovered a few negatives: You begin to build a rapport with the rowdy regulars, learn to accept that you will smell of beer constantly and you delve into a spiral of alcoholism; staying long after your shift ends to "have a few". But I think the most irritating thing about working in a pub- and a football pub at that- is the ongoing casual sexism which I endure daily.

For example, the other day I was serving three middle aged men and one of them asked me if I served pork scratchings. I replied yes, and would he like me to get him some? To which, the second man said "I don't think he means that kind of pork scratchings, love". Cue the laughter which they proceeded to direct my way. Another sexual innuendo. Wonderful.

In situations like this I feel completely embarrassed because it is not my job to accept comments like this. I am unfortunately terrible at confrontation so in situations like this I have a tendency of getting flustered and embarrassed, which the sleazy men probably enjoy a little too much.

For years, women have been disrespected in the workplace. But why should we put up with comments like that? My boss doesn't really care because realistically, the more they try and chat me up or objectify me, the more money they are likely to spend on drinks at the bar. Working in a place with so much testosterone, being a woman immediately means I stand out. And don’t get me wrong, if men want to talk to me then fine, I will accept it and converse with them because at least they are interested in discussing something other than my appearance. But when I return with someone’s drink and see them leering at me with a frankly, quite creepy smile on their face, I feel like they are preventing me from doing my job.

It is so difficult though, because sometimes men will offer to buy me drinks, or tip me. And I feel like there is nothing wrong with accepting them; but at the same time, I look at my colleagues tip jars at the end of the night and often I will make significantly more. Does this therefore mean that it is due to my appearance that they choose to tip me? And if that is the case then can it be classed as positive discrimination? I don't work any harder than other people at the pub, so why should I earn more in a night?

At this point I have two options: refuse tips and drinks from customers, leading to uncomfortable conversations about feminism and gender, or accepting their money and keeping my mouth shut about my right to not be harassed in my workplace. Ultimately, in my pub (which is a football hooligans first stop) i have found it is more worthwhile to pick my battles. If I were to backchat certain men about their behaviour towards me then it creates an uncomfortable situation for the length of time they choose to sit at the bar. Every time I walk past them from that moment on, they would either mock me or complain loudly to one of my co-workers, ruining my shift and making me uncomfortable. I cannot win with drunk men, so I have chosen to politely serve them their drinks and move onto the next customer. If they choose to tip me, I accept but do not continue to converse, because frankly I just want an easy life and why should I waste my time talking to someone who clearly doesn't respect me. I do however hate that my voice is squashed by these drunk men, so in the future I am going to make a point of changing situations so I am not uncomfortable, refusing to serve those who treat me as anything other than an ex-student trying to get on with her job.

I feel like this world still has a long way to go before us women can be treated as professionally as men, especially in a pub job where even our job title as ‘barmaid’ is actually a much more condescending term in comparison to the male alternative. I will continue to pick my battles and when the time is right inform these clearly misinformed men of my place in society. Let me get on with my job without being harassed. Rant over.