Social Issue Related to Literature - Essay Example

Marileidys Ortega Pr: Calderin, Victor 07/29/08 Final Paper Social issue related to literature Literature explores the social issues which have gained attention and changed the history of the United States of America. There are many social issues which have affected American society. Literature plays an important role in transforming the nature of humanity. It understands the issues of society in the light of globalization and information technology. It respects the cultural diversity of humanity. This paper focuses on the social issue of sexual harassment. It studies the definition of sexual harassment and the implications of this social issue in the workplace. It analyzes and examines the movie “North County” which is a fictionalized account of real events about sexual harassment in the workplace. Legislation in the 1970s was launched in the United States of America to ensure that gender discrimination is eliminated in the workplace. However, sexual harassment remains a constant problem despite extensive protection from laws inside the United States of America. The paper finally examines the social issue and its relation with the movie. Sexual harassment constitutes sex discrimination under the Civil Rights Act of 1964. It can consist of undesirable sexual behavior and developments. It can be either verbal or physical as the perpetrator may resort to favors, affect the performance of an individual during work, and create an aggressive environment. Sexual harassment also occurs because some victims are targeted because of their culture. In some cultures, women are taught to be subservient and obedient to their men. Superiors inside an organization might use their influence or position to invite sexual favors from the victim. Sexual harassment can be independent of gender or race or ethnicity. The perpetrators and victims can belong to different ethnic, gender, or racial groups. Offensive behavior can cause anguish and stress in the victim as it might affect their work and performance. Sexual offenses which are unwanted and unwelcome constitute sexual harassment. Research has found that an estimated “fifteen thousand sexual harassment cases are reported each year in the United States of America” (Schickman). Another research has pointed out that fifty percent of women have been victims of sexual harassment. While the majority of complaints are usually from women, it has been reported that a large number of men are also victims of sexual harassment. Sexual harassment can be perpetrated by a stranger, friend, supervisor, manager, client, or co-worker. A victim might not be directly targeted but might find the behavior of the perpetrator to be disgusting or repulsive. There can be different types of sexual harassment. One type of sexual harasser is the “one who abuses his or her power to seek sexual favors from their subordinates” (Schickman). The victim might be offered rewards, incentives, and promotions in return for sexual favors. Another type of sexual harasser is the fatherly or motherly figure who attempts to use their respectable positions to advance their sexual intentions towards their students or subordinates. Sexual harassers can also operate in gangs as they pass crude remarks, vulgar language, and obscene advances against particular targets. Serial harassers have a compulsive habit of harassing their victims. They strike with caution by attacking only in private. Sexual harassers usually retaliate against their victims if complaints have been lodged. Victims are marginalized and demonized in the work environment. They are labeled as causing mischief and trouble who want to attract attention. Victims can be isolated from their family and friends. They might be the targets of aggression from the perpetrators. Powerful and influential people inside universities or companies accused of sexual harassment can “use their influence and power to ensure that the victim’s job or education has been terminated” (Schickman). They also can make sure the victim is not seen in the workplace. Retaliation by perpetrators can ruin the reputation, careers, and academic life of victims. It can cause several negative emotional and behavioral problems in individuals. The victim might not want to attend school or workplace. The loss of jobs and career is another effect of sexual harassment. The victim can come in the spotlight as being accused of causing the sexual harassment. Victims of sexual harassment also display social isolation, depression, stress, and anxiety. They might even lose their self esteem and self respect. They harbor doubts about academic and workplace environments. They also might have the weakening of support from their friends, family, and colleagues. Victims of sexual harassment have to face several psychological problems. They might complain of having “low motivation, eating disorders, anger, violence, aggression, loss of confidence and suicidal tendencies” (Schickman). This social issue can also decrease the performance of organizations as it might lead to increased conflict, suspicion, and low job satisfaction. North Country is an American movie which was released in 2005 starring Charlize Theron and Woody Harrelson. It is based upon “sexual harassment on actual events and the subsequent case of Jenson vs. Eveleth Taconite Company” ("North Country: Overview"). The movie archives the life of Josey Aimes who has two children and divorced. She escapes her husband to live with her parents. She applies for a job after encouragement from an old friend. Her father is opposed to her working as he believes that women should stay at home. Josey; however, thinks that it would be a good opportunity to earn money and provide her children with the basic facilities of life. Her workplace is a male dominate environment where women workers are victims of sexual harassment. Josey attempts to remedy the problem by complaining to the management. She is assaulted by her coworkers which leads her to resigning from the job. She hires a lawyer to file a sexual harassment suit against her former employees. The case is built on the premise that “the company had failed to stop sexual harassment of women in the workplace” ("North Country: Overview"). She finds herself socially ostracized as her father does not support her. Her attempts to enlist help from her former colleagues are shunned because of their fears of losing their jobs. Josey also has to face her troubled past as the case continues. She wins the case which earns her the appreciation of many people. Her father also supports her by pointing out that men in the workplace would never abuse their wives and daughters as they do to their female coworkers. The movie is based on real events which occurred in the 1970s and 1980s. US government had pushed for steel companies to ensure that minorities and women would be given a substantial percentage of the jobs. One such woman was Lois Jenson who began to work at the Eveleth Iron Mine. She had to “work long hours which included using heavy machines” (sexualharassmentsupport.org). She suffered from sexual harassment from her coworkers. Men believed that women should stay at home. They considered women employment as threats to the few jobs available for their community. The women did not complain for fears of being terminated but as the harassment increased they tried to file complaints to the management. The company’s management ignored their requests for stopping the sexual harassment. Ultimately a case was filed in 1993 in which the presiding judge had conservative beliefs about women employment. He also had a history of sexual harassment. The judge awarded each of the plaintiffs a paltry sum of ten thousand dollars. The judgment was reversed in 1997 as a new trial proceeded with a jury. Each of the victims was awarded a sum of three million dollars. Jenson vs. Eveleth Mines sexual harassment case became the first case to be settled in the United States of America. Sexual harassment was a major problem in those days “as women did not have access to legal protection” (sexualharassmentsupport.org). They were exploited by the management and had to endure sexual harassment. Steel companies were dominated by males who had old fashioned values. Sexual harassment was rampant in the steel mines which destroyed the lives of many women. Sexual harassment remains a major social issue in the United States of America. It is rampant in the workplace and academic universities. It can have a negative impact on the victim. Similar to the movie, sexual harassment can cause deep social, psychological, behavioral and emotional problems in the victims. Family and friends can become antagonistic towards the victim. The movie “North Country” depicted the father and friends of Josey being unsupportive of her. Her attempts to rally support at the labor union were not met with success. Many of her coworkers also did not support her for fear of losing their jobs. Sexual harassment victims can be targeted for retaliation by the perpetrators. Josey was physically assaulted by her coworkers who ultimately led her to resigning from the job. This issue can ruin the academic and career prospects of victims. Josey had her career destroyed because of it. She had aspirations for providing a decent life to her children. As she speaks out against the injustice being perpetrated on the female coworkers, her friends and family are not supportive of her. They believe that this will only make things worse. Sexual harassment is a traumatic event for victims as it can lead to loss of self esteem, self respect, motivation, increase violence, anger, depression and suicidal thoughts. However, Josey displays courage by resorting to the courts to correct the injustice perpetrated against her. It again proves that fighting back against the perpetrators is necessary to fight sexual harassment. Literature is a powerful medium which enlightens people about the social issues which any society faces. It gives a brilliant portrayal of the social problems and how they can be solved. Sexual harassment remains a problem despite extensive legislation which protects victims. The movie “North Country” highlights the issue of sexual discrimination which was faced by working women. Sexual harassment can occur in physical or verbal manners. It can include the use of unwanted sexual advances and favors by perpetrators which might directly affect the employment of the victim, lead to the creation of a hostile environment, and cause distress in the victim. Sexual harassment can force the victims to be demonized and socially isolated. The perpetrators of sexual harassment might be influential people who might use their power and influence to terminate or ruin the careers of the victims. Victims of sexual harassment can be subject to retaliation by the perpetrators if complains are filed. It is clear that sexual harassment should not be tolerated. The courts are the most effective defense against sexual harassment. Victims must not be afraid of retaliation but instead must come out and file suits if they have been sexually victimized by any perpetrator. “North Country” shows that determination and courage of victims can ultimately win them the affection and support of both men and women. It can also lead to damages for any organization which fails to prevent sexual harassment. An organization is also negatively affected by accusations of sexual harassment. Works Cited: "Jenson vs. Eveleth Mines." sexualharassmentsupport.org. sexualharassmentsupport.org. 27 Jul 2008 . Schickman, Mark I. . "Sexual Harassment." 2006. 27 Jul 2008 . "North Country: Overview." MSN. MSN. 27 Jul 2008 . Read More