Harassment in the workplace refers to insulting or threatening behavior directed at an individual. Workplace sexual harassment is a type of harassment that women face at the workplace. This is also known as workplace bullying. It can include verbal, physical, social, or psychological harassment at work by the employer (or manager), a coworker, or another individual or group of individuals.
Sexual harassment is an unwelcome sexual advance (a type of harassment)—a request for sexual favor or other unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature. Workplace sexual harassment makes a person feel offended, humiliated, and/or intimidated, whereas a reasonable person would anticipate that reaction in the circumstances.
Harassment occurs when someone looks at you in a way that makes you uncomfortable or when someone initiates a conversation about something you don’t want to talk about.
All this is provided in our Law, but due to lake of information, we don’t take the right step at the right time.
I come from a well-educated and modern family, yet my mother never taught me about harassment or how to deal with it. Even still, everyone says the same thing: “beta– be careful when going outside,” but no one tells me to be cautious about WHAT?
Even between moms and daughters in our society, there is a communication gap. Mothers don’t discuss social and personal concerns with their daughters, including the menstrual cycle (periods).
On the other hand, daughters are shy and hesitant to inform their mothers about “those” things.
Families will propose quitting the job as an instant solution or as a first option when girls disclose workplace harassment. Let’s say they talk about it in the workplace. People say things like “Tali dono hato sa bachti ha” or “Itni shareef thi to ghar sa he kayu nikli ya” instead of comprehending the problem of harassment.
When I decided to take a stand and started spreading the word on harassment, I noticed that women need strong communication skills, and they should understand what harassment is and what is not. In my workshop, I discuss all possible harassment, bullying, threats, and how to handle them quickly. After attending my workshop, girls comment that we don’t need to discuss any harassment within the family; we know how to handle it. Or one participant commented that after working with you, I feel more confident; I can now wear clothes I like and present myself more decently in meetings.
I realised that women require good communication skills and an understanding of what constitutes harassment. In my workshop, I cover all types of harassment, bullying, and threats and how to deal with them promptly.
Girls mention after attending my course that we don’t need to talk about harassment in the family since we know how to handle it.
Or, as one participant put it, “I feel more confident after working with you; I can now wear clothes I like and present myself more decently in meetings.”
