Should I stay ?
So I’m about a month into a tattoo apprenticeship. I got into a shop with the owner who is an incredible artist. 20+ years of experience, he’s had apprentices before that are successful. I have heard great things about him, and particularly from women saying he never made them feel uncomfortable or anything. He currently has another female apprentice right now. I am 26 y/o female. I spent months hanging out and coming around before he offered it to me, and I shared my anxiety about having a male mentor due to past experiences. He reassured me that not all men are like that. He bought me a new machine, supplies me with whatever I need, even pays me weekly. I was super excited and grateful and thought it was too good to be true. I’m starting to become extremely uncomfortable. He constantly makes sexual jokes and comments, often towards me. He has been testing the boundaries with touching me- touching my hair , sitting extremely close to me when observing me, brushing up against me but like not saying anything about it. Insulted my dad, often asks about my relationship with my dad, asks if I find certain male clients of his attractive ? Brings up personal details I have shared with him about my own life in front of clients like my troubles with addiction or my home life. This sounds stupid but like forced me to pick a battery? I’m not sure if I’m being dramatic or too sensitive , but my gut is telling me to get out. I’ve learned so much so quickly he really is a great teacher but I can’t keep coming home and crying at the end of the day and feeling uncomfortable and worried he’s going to do something to me. Can someone tell me if i need to just suck it up? The journey of landing this apprenticeship after I lost my last one has been so hard.
Posted Aug 12, 2026, 3:19 AM UTC