Sexual Harassment
by What do people think about sex and to what extent is it abused?
Sexual harassment is not at all a new issue. It occurs within the union, at work and in the community. Despite it’s prevalence in the society, it is not often openly discusses. There is usually a deliberate conspiracy of silence around it, which helps draw away attention. Most times, people try to down play the issue of sexual harassment by mischievously relating or equating it to a mutual relationship between opposite sexes.
What then is sexual harassment? It is any unwanted conduct of sexual nature, which causes discomfort and humiliates the victim. It can take various forms such as physical contact by touching, patting, brushing and grabbing of sensitive parts of self and another person’s body for sexual attention. It also includes demand for sexual favours, verbal forms like passing nasty comments, suggestive and unwelcome remarks, whistling, vulgar jokes and teasing. It further includes comments about one’s appearance and deliberate verbal abuse and telephone calls with sexual overture or undertone.
Physical sexual contact like rape and attempted rape are also sexual harassment. It also involves non-verbal forms including winkling, display of nudity, derogatory and offensive pictures (pornographic pictures).
Sexual harassment is often a display of power aimed at intimidating and degrading the harassed person. In this case, women are mostly the victims. The predators (harassers) who are often men see women as sex objects and therefore treat them as such.
Women are vulnerable to sexual harassment because they do not often like to discuss the issue openly. Thanks to some organizations and media houses for their concern to educate people on sex. From observations so far people especially most among the female folks tend not to say out any abuse done to them because of the low level of sex education and the absence of sexual harassment code either in the work places or within the society.
All categories of women suffer sexual harassment but the most affected are the young, students, unmarried, divorced, widowed or separated and to a greater extent domestic workers who are usually powerless.
Men also suffer sexual harassment from women who dress indecently or by display of nudity. Also from women who as they say “use what they have to get what they need.” Sexual harassment therefore should be a matter of concern not only to women but also to the society at large. This is because apart from threatening the physical and psychological well being of many workers especially women, it also touches the life of many families whose sisters, mothers, wives, daughters, brothers, friends, associates and relatives are harassed.
Victims of sexual harassment often suffer from tension, loss of dignity, respect and anxiety. The government at all levels, corporate bodies and organizations should therefore treat sexual harassment as a societal issue or improve more on their recent efforts to handle and accord it the necessary attention it deserves.
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Post CommentAlicia Wind
On January 23, 2009 at 10:17 am
Most women who suffer from sexual harassment, especially at young age will dvelop anxiety and stress–or growing up with fear in their whole life…
Good article!
CutestPrincess
On January 23, 2009 at 11:16 am
Effects of child sexual abuse include depression,post-traumatic stress disorder,anxiety,propensity to re-victimization in adulthood,and physical injury to the child, among other problems.Sexual abuse by a family member is a form of incest, and can result in more serious and long-term psychological trauma, especially in the case of parental incest.
trishia
On January 23, 2009 at 5:38 pm
A much needed article! I only pray for victims of sexual abuse to reach down in their souls and realize they are not to blame for sick minds that violated their human rights. For older individuals that allow this disrespect-straighten the situation out immediately. I enjoyed reading this article. Thank you.
Debra.
On January 27, 2009 at 7:43 am
Thank you, for writing about this! Lets face it, sexual harassment can harm all types of people. That’s why this article is so important so we can bring the beast out in the open and educate ourselves with every wrinkle and mark upon it’s ugly face! This is the key to maybe not stopping it completely but at least recognizing it and slowing it down considerably.
God bless you for this article, Michael!
denus
On February 2, 2009 at 4:39 am
excellent informative article, good getting the message across.
OhSugar
On February 2, 2009 at 5:37 am
Definitely an important topic. Thank you for sharing such informative and important information. Godd Job.
Leonardo da Vinci E.
On October 17, 2009 at 12:20 pm
Let’s make sure everyone is covered in this article because women as well as men can harrass very nicely. Also, both heterosexual women and men are given a pass on harrassment of homosexuals which clearly fits the definitions you listed above. And homosexuals can be observed to harrass Transgenders every now and then. Let’s make sure when Justice comes callling that everyone is invited to the table. Justice won’t mind (even though someone’s prejudices may) because Justice is blind.