Here it is - Massage workers sue former boss for sexual harassment and assault — 21 years old, City: Pasedena,
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Massage workers sue former boss for sexual harassment and assault
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PASADENA - A women's health expert said a sexual harassment lawsuit filed by three female massage parlor workers highlights some of the issues faced by older Asian women entering the workforce.
The women, who worked at Oriental Massage on North Allen Avenue in Pasadena, filed the suit in April. They seek unspecified damages.
"I want other people who have been in the same situation to know it's OK to speak up," said Shu Li Yang, 49, of Rowland Heights, one of the plaintiffs. "Because people before me hadn't said anything, I didn't know where to go."
Fiona Ao of the Asian Pacific AIDS Intervention Team said the suit only scratches the surface of the underground economy often associated with massage parlors.
"The massage parlor industry is highly stigmatized," Ao said. "Many people associate it with sex work. Women are ashamed to say they work in a massage parlor."
Yang is one of three former Oriental Massage employees who filed suit against their former employer alleging sexual harassment and assault.
The case is scheduled for a pretrial conference in Pasadena Superior Court in November, according to court documents.
The defendant in the case, Tai Chang Du, the owner of Oriental Massage, declined to comment.
In April, Du told Chinese-language newspaper the World Journal that the allegations are false.
Court documents submitted by Du's lawyer Steve Luan claim Yang was fired for disobedience.
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But in her suit, Yang claims she was assaulted physically and sexually, fondled and battered. Yang and her co-plaintiffs, Mei Ying Lu, 52, of San Gabriel and Fei Zhao, 43, of Arcadia, also claim other female employees were similarly assaulted.
The suit alleges that Yang contacted the Pasadena Police Department after a physical assault. No charges were filed, and officers dispatched to the scene indicated the matter had been resolved, according to Pasadena police spokeswoman Janet Pope Givens.
The lawsuit claims that a pervasive atmosphere of harassment exists at the massage parlor.
Yang alleges her boss would grope and fondle her "breasts and buttocks." The lawsuit also says the owner would touch other employees in front of each other and force them to massage him for free.
"I'd see the other women being groped, but I didn't want to say anything, I didn't know who to go to and I don't know English," Yang said. "If
he hadn't hit me, I wouldn't have said anything."
Ao acknowledged it was difficult for the women to come forward.
"I was surprised they spoke up, because really these women don't know their rights," Ao said. "They can work 10 to 12 hours a day and barely make enough money."
Immigrant Chinese women, especially older ones, have trouble finding jobs and often turn to massage parlors for work, Ao said.
Whether or not Yang's claims are true, said Ao, they highlight the need for outreach by the community and authorities.
"I don't think the police know enough about this issue to deal with these women," Ao said. "The language barrier is definitely an issue, and the fact (massage parlor workers) don't know how the system works will prevent them from seeking help."
Yang said her age and limited English kept her from pursuing another job.
"I'm in my 40s. I was scared I wouldn't be able to find a job ... a lot of the massage owners talk to each other, so I was afraid no one else would hire me," Yang said. "In the Asian culture it's also very shameful to speak up about this matter."
Yang said she went to the Pasadena police station four times before filing a report in late March. Yang said she initially had problems filing a report because no one was available to translate.
City officials said translation services are available at the police desk and aren't sure what transpired.
"We don't know whether she came in or not," city spokeswoman Ann Erdman said.
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