The Silence Breakers /

Shawn White

Shawn White was a leader and a mentor for his fellow colleagues at Walmart. But after he reported experiencing workplace sex harassment and was disappointed by Walmart’s response, he knew he needed to come forward to tell his story so other survivors, especially male survivors, felt less alone.

Breaking the Stigma

People often think workplace sexual harassment only happens to women. When you’re a man, people expect you to welcome any sexual attention, even if it’s unwanted. They question why you didn’t want it. They make you feel like you’re somehow less of a man because you said no.

That’s one of the biggest reasons I decided to share my story.

I want people to understand that men experience workplace sexual harassment too. We feel embarrassed. We question ourselves. We worry that people won’t believe us. Men may face a different stigma, but the impact of workplace sexual harassment is the same.

No one should have to accept unwanted advances to protect their job.

Speaking up wasn’t easy. My job was more than just a paycheck. I poured everything I had into my job. For more than four years, I built a career at Walmart by leading teams, mentoring coworkers, and creating a workplace where people felt supported. I exceeded expectations because I took pride in what I did: helping others succeed and being someone my coworkers could count on. I actively built teams where people wanted to come to work.

Then everything changed after a female supervisor started sexually harassing me. I reported the abuse to Walmart multiple times, but the company ignored my complaints. At one point, I requested to transfer to a different Walmart location where I excelled as a team lead, only for management to subsequently transfer my harasser to the same store where the pattern continued. I reported the harassment again, and Walmart retaliated against me.

I lost more than a job. I lost a community and my identity. They were taken from me. And the worst part was that I didn’t do anything wrong.

I knew that I needed to hold Walmart accountable so this would never happen again. But what I didn’t know was how much patience and tenacity that would take.

I learned that seeking justice takes time. The process can be long, uncertain, and exhausting. But my family and my legal team help me keep going. They remind me that my voice matters and that I don’t have to carry everything alone.

When we filed the lawsuit, I finally felt relief. For the first time, I felt like I was taking back some control. Going public scared me because I worried about what people would think. Then I realized something: Speaking up is courageous. No matter what happened next, I’d know I stood up for myself. That realization helped me find the strength to put the pieces of my life back together and blossom into something else.

I realized I needed to take the same energy that helped me succeed at work and put it into rebuilding my own life. That’s why I decided to go back to school and continue investing in my future. I’ve found purpose in spending more time with my son, strengthening my faith, and embracing the support of the people who continue to stand beside me. My mom has been my anchor throughout every part of this journey.

There’s something else I’ve realized: I didn’t lose my community. My former coworkers still call to check on me. They remind me of the manager I was and the impact I had on their lives. And after I lost my job, they even surprised me with a birthday party.

Today, I feel empowered because I chose to speak out instead of staying silent. My story doesn’t end here. It’s just the beginning.

If you’re a survivor, I want you to know this: Stand up for yourself. Don’t wait for someone else to do it for you because most of the time they won’t. You deserve respect. You deserve to feel safe at work. Your job should never be in jeopardy because you don’t want to date your boss.

Life after workplace sexual harassment involves a rebuilding phase. It’s hard. It can feel lonely. But it isn’t the end of your story.

Other Stories