prevent harassment

The impact of sexual harassment at the workplace is far-reaching and is an injury to the equal right of women. Not only does it impact her, it has a direct bearing on the workplace productivity as well as the development of the society. Below is a list of select examples of such negative impacts

Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature and either; The conduct is made as a term or condition of an individual’s employment, education, living environment or participation in a University community. •          Touching the person's clothing, hair, or body •          Hugging, kissing, patting, or stroking   •          Touching or rubbing oneself sexually around another person •          Standing close or brushing up against another person •          Giving a massage around the neck or shoulders  

Gestures or nonverbal behaviors might also be considered sexual harassment where they are persistent, severe, and offensive.                               •         Looking a person up and down (Elevator eyes                               •         Staring at someone                                •         Blocking a person's path         •         Following the person     ...

Verbal abuse (verbal attack or verbal assault) is when a person forcefully criticizes, insults, or denounces someone else. Characterized by underlying anger and hostility, it is a destructive form of communication intended to harm the self-concept of the other person and produce negative emotions. •     Referring to an adult as a girl, hunk, doll, babe, or honey   •     Whistling at someone, cat calls •     Making sexual comments about a person's body •     Making sexual comments or innuendos •     Turning work discussions to sexual topics •     Telling sexual jokes or stories •     Asking about sexual fantasies, preferences, or history •     Asking personal questions about social or sexual life •     Making kissing sounds, howling, and smacking lips              ...

      Sexual harassment is, below all, a manifestation of power relations women are much more likely to be victims of Sexual harassment, Precisely because they more often than men lack power are in more vulnerable and insecure positions. Lack of self- confidence, or have been socialized to suffer in silence. In order to understand why women, endure the vast majority of sexual harassment, it is important to look at some of the underlying causes of this phenomenon. ·          Sexual harassment includes many things •     Actual or attempted rape or sexual assault.   •     Unwanted pressure for sexual favors.   •      Unwanted deliberate touching, leaning over, cornering, or pinching.   •     Unwanted sexual looks or gestures.   •     Unwanted letters, telephone calls, or materials of a sexual nature. ·  ...

Very often situations that start off innocently end up in inappropriate and unprofessional behaviors. It is important to remember that workplace sexual harassment is sexual, unwelcome and the experience is subjective. It is the impact and not the intent that matters and it almost always occurs in a matrix of power. It is possible that a woman may experience a single instance of sexual harassment or a series of incidents over a period of time. It is important also to remember that each case is unique and should be examined in its own context and according to the surrounding circumstances as a whole. The following table highlights the subjective nature of the experience and the impact it may have on the person involved, irrespective of the intent of such behavior. To enable prevention of sexual harassment at the workplace, it is critical to recognize and differentiate between welcome and unwelcome sexual behavior. Listed are some examples of how “unwelcome” and “welcome” behavior is ex...