Sexual harassment & interventiona - Research Paper Example

? SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND INTERVENTIONS In recent times, with the rapid growth of the usage of technology one is aware of the maximum amount of the mishaps that take place in this world. It is alarming that the cases related with sexual harassment are increasing on a daily basis. This gives a vivid picture so as to why the ratio of such cases is increasing. One of the most prominent reason is that the people who are in power are not giving the required attention to this topic or merely not even considering it to be a problem at all hence no measure of prevention is being taken. The individuals who commit such actions deserve serious punishment. It is required from the legislative bodies to make bold moves so that the integrity of young teenagers remains intact and they can enjoy their life without the fear of any such harassment. Those individuals who face such trauma are not only physically tortured but the impacts can be outrageously damaging to their mental health. One of the most common problem and the most misunderstood issue with sexual harassment is that people it is mostly considered that only opposite genders can harass each other and most likely a woman is the one who is most likely to get harassed. This can be completely wrong at times as sexual harassment can occur within the same sex as well and it is not necessary men who dominate. Sexual harassment is basically that act which brings about an unwelcoming feeling or undesired attention through various means. This can be done through touching or by conversing in such a manner that the other person becomes uncomfortable and does not like it. This term at times can be extended to comprise of harassments that involves genders, or the harassment that deals with the orientation of sexual activities or through sexual abuse. Furthermore the criteria of being harassed is that if the victim of the harassment needs to speak up and tell the harasser that he/she does not like what is happening and therefore he/she has an unpleasant and unwelcoming feeling about it. In simpler words the victim has to express his/her reservations to the act. If he/she fails to do so then legally it will not be considered as an act of sexual harassment. (Dank, 1998) It has been observed that those people who have certain authority and power usually commit such acts. They know that after doing so they can escape easily which somehow encourages them. The reason why such acts are usually undercover is that the person committing such acts has an idea that what he/she is doing is not ethical and therefore tries his best to keep it hidden. This can be done through various means. One can hide their identity or if they have to disclose their identity then they try their best and make sure that the victim does not open his mouth in front of the law or the masses under any circumstances. It has been where the case remains hidden and unheard is usually when the harasser is the boss or a coworker with higher authorities. Hence they get the right to do as they please and then keep it hidden. “Sexual harassment is not an exclusively sexual issue but may be an exploitation of a power relationship. Like any other power struggle, many instances of sexual harassment are initiated and negotiated by a person in a position of authority and are sustained at the expense of another who cannot counter demands without risk of reprisal (student teacher vs. student, principal vs. teacher)” (Brandenburg, 1997 ). This explains the use of power or authority when it comes to sexual harassment. There are many reasons because of which these activities are increasing; some of the most prominent motivations to commit such adultery are mentioned here. First and foremost it seems like women tend to invite such activities towards them. The way they dress and expose their body can tempt any person making it irresistible for the person to refrain from such acts. The concept of revealing the skin is one of the major reasons why sexual harassment has reached its peak in recent times. Secondly, women and men have a common workplace nowadays; this makes it difficult for both the sexes to avoid each other's presence. In such circumstances women have to cope up with all the unpleasant comments and inappropriate jokes that men make. This can be very disturbing and a source of mental depression for the victim. Lastly one of the most prominent reasons which I believe is the concept of liberty and freedom in the society. Today mostly the young generation has forgotten its values, culture and ethics. The promotion of activities like consumption of alcohol, drugs etc. has given individuals the right to choose this path for themselves. Furthermore the mingling between the opposite sexes, nudity and openness is another reason. Kissing, touching and such activities are so common that they motivate the opposite sex to opt for more resulting in an increased ratio of sexually explicit crimes. (Hynes, 2011) Thus, the propagation of such activities is majorly because of the negligence of the people in power. Proper laws are not enforced in this regard that has resulted in so much chaos and disturbance. There is no check and balance at clubs, casinos, night bars etc. and at times there are not even age limitations. Drinking is another massive reason that makes individuals lose control over their senses, thus the age bar that allows youngsters should be raised to a point where they have control over their feelings and body. Furthermore those people who spend their entire day wasting time on the streets should be checked as they are the reason of the most inconvenience and evils caused in the society. The liberty provided to citizens should not in any way hamper the safety of another individual. There is a thin line between fun and harassment which should not be crossed at any point. The impacts of sexual activities are not just limited to the victim but its impacts can be outreaching. The life of the individual who faces such acts changes completely. The victim does not only face mental and physical trauma but the society makes life miserable for them as well. In the eastern side of the world those women who become a victim of such acts are considered to be corrupt and the men at times, especially in the lower class, escape quite easily. Cases in the east are not even reported as it is considered that reporting will become a disgrace for the family. (Strauss, 2010) The affect of sexual harassment tends to differ from person to person depending on the social set up they belong too. The west is quite open and therefore such cases are recorded and forgotten. Even the victims get over it with the passage of time. The case is quite different in the east where such acts bring the families’ and the tribes’ respect at stake with the victim. The lower class at times gets oppressed and they do not speak up for their rights. On the contrary, the elites who have power take massive actions. The role of NGO's is quite prominent when it comes to helping those who have been a victim of sexual harassment. Other than that it’s the duty of the family that they do not give so much liberty and freedom to their children that they completely overlook their well being. Every individual, once he/she reaches a mature age and has control over his/her body and mind will get ample opportunities to have their share of freedom of action. Such activities at an immature age will only lead to disgrace and embarrassment. It’s the duty of the parents to ensure their child's safety and for that they should rely on the wisdom they have gained over the passage of time and not on the child's intellect. The best way to protect their child is to make certain rules and regulations and making sure that they are met. At this point I would like to discuss the interventions of sexual harassment. Sexual harassment is not faced by a certain group but it is a universal issue that affects all races, cultures and age groups. Laws need to be made in order to protect the sovereignty and dignity of the individuals. And the institutions and organizations should play their part in framing the policies in such a manner that integrity of individuals remains intact. It has been observed that those cases who reach the judiciary are at times halted and the parties are left to settle the dispute amongst each other. The role of the legislative bodies is to make sure that employees make the rules which are then followed by the employer. (Barrier, 1998) The institutions can make three basic changes to their system that will eventually help in ruling out this evil from the society. Firstly, the organization should make firm laws and regulations in this regard and those who do not work in compliance with these laws should be strictly penalized for their actions. A system that facilitates those who experience such issues where they can confront, express their reservations and complain needs to operate in all organizations. Lastly training sessions and workshops need to be conducted on regular basis that guide the employers and employees about what sexual harassment actually is, how one can identify it, oppose and finally derive ways to avert it. In order to develop fear amongst the masses all necessary efforts need to be taken that can help to overcome the act of sexual harassment. The help of law enforcing agencies to overcome this issue is one of the most important aspects. Secondly severe punishments need to be given in front of the people so that it becomes a lesson for all those who believe that they can escape from the laws. Society plays a very important role here as we have observed that those individuals who opt for training sessions that help in overcoming sexual harassment are usually humiliated amongst the masses. This not only stops them from being better humans but also develops the feelings to harass more strong as they eventually become free of guilt. Confrontation is essential. Usually people do not feel comfortable in opening themselves up in front of the random people and thus find it convenient to resolves grievances internally. "Internal grievance procedures may save time, minimize emotional and financial expense, and be more sensitive to all persons" (Larkin, 1994) Thus sexual harassment training programs are quite helpful as they provide reinforcement of values and restrict the occurrence of such activities. These sessions can be internal or external depending upon the requirement of the organizations. These programs aid the workers in providing awareness to the employees in order to overcome such issues. (Brown, 1999) The process resulting to spread awareness on this cause can differ from one organization to another but the outcome remains the same for all. These programs should incorporate case studies, statistics and prevailing issues so that awareness is spread and positive results are extracted of all these efforts. The ultimate result is obtained when an organization takes all these sessions seriously and eliminates any such activity from their surroundings by reshaping their behavior and priorities. References Brandenburg, J. B. (1997). Confronting sexual harassment: What schools and colleges can do. New York: Teachers College Press, Columbia University. Barrier, M. "Sexual Harassment." Nation's Business 86, no. 12 (December 1998): 14-19.  Larkin, J. (1994). Sexual harassment: High school girls speak out. Toronto: Second Story Press. Strauss, S. (2012). Sexual harassment and bullying: A guide to keeping kids safe and holding schools accountable. Lanham, Md: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. Brown, B. L., & ERIC Clearinghouse on Adult, Career, and Vocational Education. (1999).Sexual harassment interventions. Columbus, OH: ERIC Clearinghouse on Adult, Career, and Vocational Education, Center on Education and Training for Employment, College of Education, the Ohio State University. Dank, B. M., & Refinetti, R. (1998). Sexual harassment & sexual consent. New Brunswick, N.J: Transaction Publishers. Hynes, L. E. (2011). Sexual abuse: Types, signs and treatments. New York: Nova Science Publishers. Read More