I have a coworker I can’t stand. We have the same title, but he treats me like his assistant because I’m younger and female. I’ve talked to our manager about it, and he’s well aware of his ego issue and doesn’t seem to care. I was going to just suck it up and let it slide until this.
Last week, he randomly showed me his “artwork”, which I would best describe as horror porn. It’s all photos he shot of naked women with photoshopped elements like vagina mouths or penis nipples to make them look like monsters. I was so uncomfortable during it and tried to just ignore it, but it’s been bothering me. I’m an artist and I’m not startled by nudity, but his work is clearly fetish expression. It’s super creepy that he would show that off to me at work, as I don’t look far off from some of the models. I’m also a SA survivor so I’m more sensitive to this type of violation. He’s so proud of this work that he wears a custom printed hat with the URL for it almost every day. He wears it tilted up so I don’t think anyone else here has noticed, and I’m positive I’m the only person he showed these photos off to.
I want to write an email about it to HR and my manager, but I’m worried this will come back to haunt me. I have a feeling it will only result in him getting a talking to and required company-wide sexual harassment training. He’ll know it was me who reported and it will probably make my work life more strained. I’m the only woman in this office and I’m not sure my older male coworkers would respect me for it. Should I report him?