Sarah Jay, a 24-year-old recruitment consultant, recently called out a businessman on LinkedIn after he commented on one of her professional photos, saying she was “so doable.” The photo, taken at a black-tie event, shows her in a long black gown, and Jay clarified that it wasn’t meant to be provocative. When she confronted the man, he blamed her for having a “sexy” profile picture, leaving Jay feeling “disgusted” and frustrated by his unprofessional response.
Jay shared the exchange on LinkedIn, captioning it “the reality of being a woman on LinkedIn,” and received a flood of support. Many praised her for speaking out, though a few users criticized her photo as “unprofessional.” Jay defended her stance, saying that regardless of attire, inappropriate comments on professional platforms are unacceptable and detract from her career-focused presence on LinkedIn.
Taking further action, Jay reported the man to his employer and LinkedIn for unprofessional behavior, noting that as a young woman in a male-dominated field, she’s frequently faced such comments, both online and in the workplace. She expressed the toll it’s taken on her confidence in posting professional images, especially in spaces meant for career networking.
Jay’s post sparked widespread discussion, with many LinkedIn users agreeing that the platform should remain a professional environment, free from predatory remarks. She emphasized that comments like these are “damaging to the platform” and hoped her story would raise awareness about maintaining respect on professional networks.
