Sexual harassment is a crime punishable by law. Many employees are victims of sexual harassment. Read more on Facts about Workplace Sexual Harassment.
Sexual harassment can be seen as forceful sexual advances, desire for sexual favors, and other physical or verbal sexual expressions without the consent of the opposite sex.
This antisocial behavior can manifest in various forms, such as; rape, sexual threats, fondling, lewd jokes, and comments.
Let’s delve into some facts about workplace sexual harassment.
SOME FACTS ABOUT SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN THE WORKPLACE
- SEXUAL HARASSMENT IS NOT GENDER-BASED.
Generally, it is believed that women are at more risk of facing sexual harassment, even though that’s true, it doesn’t deny the fact that men also face their share of sexual harassment.
This points out that both men and women can be sexual harassers and also victims of such acts. This can occur in both opposite-sex and same-sex relationships.
- MOST VICTIMS OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT DO NOT REPORT OR FILE A COMPLAIN
From reliable statistics, it has been discovered that most victims of sexual harassment do not report the case to any authority.
This could be out of the fear of retaliation or dismissal from their superior. Aside from that, some victims of sexual harassment find it distressing to share their experiences.
Also, since society may fault their story, many victims of sexual harassment do not own up to sharing their past.
- SEXUAL HARASSMENT ALSO OCCURS AMONG EMPLOYEES
It is often heard that most cases of sexual harassment occur between a superior and a subordinate in an organization. That’s true, but it has gone beyond that.
Today, employees are sexually harassed by their colleagues. This goes on because of the need to get favor, a cover, leverage, or even for pleasure.
Colleagues can be blackmailed and are asked for sexual favor as a cover.
The recurring aspect of sexual assault today still falls between employers and employees.
- SEXUAL HARASSMENT DOESN’T ONLY OCCUR BASED ON PROMOTION OR DISMISSAL
The quest for sexual harassment may not be hinged on getting a promotion at work or a dismissal. Workers in an organization can be sexually harassed even when there are no consequences attached to it.
The point is that most cases of sexual harassment come in the form of derogatory words, sexts (sex-related chats), and fondling or lewd sexual jokes.
- THE HARASSER’S APPROACH MUST BE UNWELCOME
Before any action is seen as sexual harassment, it must be unwelcome or unfriendly.
If a person’s conduct and approach are not unfriendly, then it cannot be categorized as sexual harassment.
On the hand, if a person is sexually used and doesn’t see anything wrong with that, it cannot be tagged as sexual harassment.
The point is this, the victim of sexual harassment should prove that a person’s behavior is unwelcome.
Sexual harassment in the workplace can be monitored and curtailed to an appreciable extent.
Employers should have a strict working policy against sexual harassment and also have a bystander intervention for such occurrences.
By and large, to reduce the rate of sexual harassment in any organization, employers should also have an enabling environment where cases of sexual harassment are resolved without having any effect on the victim.
This will go a long way.