Violence Against Women at Work is Real
By Khushboo Takyar , 3rd Year Law Student Delhi, India
IF IT’S UNWANTED IT’S HARASSMENT
Violence against women in India is the major issue related to women which cannot be ignored as it is hindering almost one half of the economic growth of the country. Women in Indian society have been considered things of enjoyment since the time of invasion . They have often been victims of humiliation, exploitation and torture by men from the time of social organization or hierarchy and family life.Violence against women at work is real; it happens every day, in every corner of the world. It appears or manifests in many ways – from verbal and physical abuse to sexual assault and even murder.
SEXUAL HARASSMENT AT THE WORKPLACE is part of violence against women. The legal definition of sexual harassment is “unwelcome verbal, visual, or physical conduct of a sexual nature that is severe or pervasive and affects working conditions and a hostile work environment”. Sexual harassment refers to “unwanted sexual advances, whether touches, looks, pressures to have sex or even jokes".Such behavior is imposed sometimes as a condition - implied usually - on a person’s employment. There are two types of sexual harassment. The first one known as ‘quid pro’, means ‘something for something’ and consists of harassment that has a direct impact on the individual’s job. Suppose a manager imposes on their subordinate to be sexually cooperative, or else he or she will be fired from the job. The second one is known as hostile environment. It results from unwanted behaviors and conducts from seniors and other personnel in a more dominant position in the workplace, such as discussing sexual topics, make use of inappropriate words such as ‘babe’ or similar derogatory terms, demonstrating indecent gestures and using crude and unusual language or remarks.
There are many causes of sexual harassment but the most important one is the culture and values system and the relative power and status of the men and women in our society. The way in which men and women are brought up in India strongly influences their behavior in an organization. Women often lack self confidence because of the way they have been socialized and are customized often to suffer in silence. Depending upon cultural conditioning, men can be brought up with macho beliefs, who consider females a mere toy to play with and easily carry these values into the workplace. Such domineering viewpoints create an atmosphere that allows men a feeling of freedom to practice sexual harassment in the workplace, while women remain vulnerable and unprotected.
Women are vulnerable to sexual harassment because they more often lack power and often work in an insecure position, such as casual labour. Due to the fear factor women often resign to their fate rather than raise their voice against sexual harassment. Since they do not know where to go to complain and how their complain would be treated, they often keep quiet and suffer in ignominy.Some times sexual harassment is also seen as a power game, where man insists on sexual favors in exchange for benefits he can dispense with due to his more powerful position. The 'casting couch' is probably the best-known example of such power game, but this behaviour is pervasive in many sectors.
As recent economic and social changes have changed power relations between men and women in Indian society, men also sometimes feel a sense of insecurity. This is another aspect to be considered. With women now being more empowered, some men feel threatened by their career advancement. To over come such insecure feelings, some men resort to harassing women in the work place. Sometimes men are stressed in the work place because even after doing their best, they may not receive proper recognition in today’s circumstances or climate, where as women with little talent are preferred for being fair sex in an organization. This sometimes leads to frustration and such men resort to sexual harassment to overcome their stress. This is a topical issue that require timely and evolved solutions.
Remedies such as:
CONCLUSION
In the end I only like to say that we all should not sit with an ostrich’s eye with ahope that things will take a favourable turn in near future because Sexual harassment in a work place is a sensitive issue. It cannot be checked merely providing staff members information about the sexual harassment policy or relying on disciplinary action. The organization must play proactive role, provide behavioral support and discuss this aspect as a part of the work routine. The staff must nurture an inclusive, supportive, and respectful environment in the office in order to build a congenial working atmosphere. Equally important is that the organization must support the victim of sexual harassment, and help to overcome the negative effects of such an experience. Finally, every working women must know that it is high time to stand up and fight for such injustices. Its only then sexual harassment in work place can be checked.
By Khushboo Takyar , 3rd Year Law Student Delhi, India
IF IT’S UNWANTED IT’S HARASSMENT
Violence against women in India is the major issue related to women which cannot be ignored as it is hindering almost one half of the economic growth of the country. Women in Indian society have been considered things of enjoyment since the time of invasion . They have often been victims of humiliation, exploitation and torture by men from the time of social organization or hierarchy and family life.Violence against women at work is real; it happens every day, in every corner of the world. It appears or manifests in many ways – from verbal and physical abuse to sexual assault and even murder.
SEXUAL HARASSMENT AT THE WORKPLACE is part of violence against women. The legal definition of sexual harassment is “unwelcome verbal, visual, or physical conduct of a sexual nature that is severe or pervasive and affects working conditions and a hostile work environment”. Sexual harassment refers to “unwanted sexual advances, whether touches, looks, pressures to have sex or even jokes".Such behavior is imposed sometimes as a condition - implied usually - on a person’s employment. There are two types of sexual harassment. The first one known as ‘quid pro’, means ‘something for something’ and consists of harassment that has a direct impact on the individual’s job. Suppose a manager imposes on their subordinate to be sexually cooperative, or else he or she will be fired from the job. The second one is known as hostile environment. It results from unwanted behaviors and conducts from seniors and other personnel in a more dominant position in the workplace, such as discussing sexual topics, make use of inappropriate words such as ‘babe’ or similar derogatory terms, demonstrating indecent gestures and using crude and unusual language or remarks.
There are many causes of sexual harassment but the most important one is the culture and values system and the relative power and status of the men and women in our society. The way in which men and women are brought up in India strongly influences their behavior in an organization. Women often lack self confidence because of the way they have been socialized and are customized often to suffer in silence. Depending upon cultural conditioning, men can be brought up with macho beliefs, who consider females a mere toy to play with and easily carry these values into the workplace. Such domineering viewpoints create an atmosphere that allows men a feeling of freedom to practice sexual harassment in the workplace, while women remain vulnerable and unprotected.
Women are vulnerable to sexual harassment because they more often lack power and often work in an insecure position, such as casual labour. Due to the fear factor women often resign to their fate rather than raise their voice against sexual harassment. Since they do not know where to go to complain and how their complain would be treated, they often keep quiet and suffer in ignominy.Some times sexual harassment is also seen as a power game, where man insists on sexual favors in exchange for benefits he can dispense with due to his more powerful position. The 'casting couch' is probably the best-known example of such power game, but this behaviour is pervasive in many sectors.
As recent economic and social changes have changed power relations between men and women in Indian society, men also sometimes feel a sense of insecurity. This is another aspect to be considered. With women now being more empowered, some men feel threatened by their career advancement. To over come such insecure feelings, some men resort to harassing women in the work place. Sometimes men are stressed in the work place because even after doing their best, they may not receive proper recognition in today’s circumstances or climate, where as women with little talent are preferred for being fair sex in an organization. This sometimes leads to frustration and such men resort to sexual harassment to overcome their stress. This is a topical issue that require timely and evolved solutions.
Remedies such as:
- an organization should have clear cut policy to register complaints of such nature and procedure for taking disciplinary action. Such guidelines are already available through Supreme Court judgment, it is only its implementation that is required.
- Every organization should have an effective employment policy that should ensure well planned career paths based on merit to reduce the vulnerability of individuals and harassment by those who abuse their power and authority.
- There should be awareness among the staff members about sexual harassment and the consequences they may face if they indulge in such an act. They should know their social responsibilities to prevent such incident in their organization.
- The staff member subjected to sexual harassment must first complain to the committee members constituted for such purposes in the organization, before going to the authorities or the police.
- Appropriate awareness raising training programs and advice should be implemented without delay as part of legal risk management.
CONCLUSION
In the end I only like to say that we all should not sit with an ostrich’s eye with ahope that things will take a favourable turn in near future because Sexual harassment in a work place is a sensitive issue. It cannot be checked merely providing staff members information about the sexual harassment policy or relying on disciplinary action. The organization must play proactive role, provide behavioral support and discuss this aspect as a part of the work routine. The staff must nurture an inclusive, supportive, and respectful environment in the office in order to build a congenial working atmosphere. Equally important is that the organization must support the victim of sexual harassment, and help to overcome the negative effects of such an experience. Finally, every working women must know that it is high time to stand up and fight for such injustices. Its only then sexual harassment in work place can be checked.