‘Sexual harassment at work place rampant, but unreported’
Dr Eugenia Akpan is a lecturer in the Department of Sociology, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria; he speaks on how sexual harassment should not be a victimless crime.
What exactly would you say is sexual harassment especially as it pertains to the work place?
Sexual harassment is defined as unwanted and unwelcome sexual behaviours. Sexual harassment first appeared as a social problem in the US and the UK in the early 1970’s and 1980’s respectively following protests by women groups about their treatment in the workplace (Bennett, 2002).
The behaviours usually pass undefined as violence in the criminal law and are usually located in heterosexual cultures and often difficult to distinguish from normal masculine modes of flirtation and courtship.
Identifying sexual harassment is not always easy. A boy may snap a girl’s bra or a girl may tug at a boy’s pant under the guise that they were teasing.
Even though sexual harassment may not be the motive, if the target finds the behaviour uncomfortable, embarrassing or threatening, it is a case of sexual harassment. So to define sexual harassment, the subjective experience of the person targeted by the behaviour and the degree to which the behaviour is accepted as violating is usually considered.
Where a society has neither named nor accepted the existence of violence against women and children, those experiencing sexual harassment are often unable to name it, because they feel they have no rights, instead they shroud it in silence.
These acts may be going on but unreported for fear of social stigma. It is the least reported form of gender-based violence, but at the same time it is the commonest.
Are there different forms of sexual harassment?
Yes there are various forms of sexual harassment, and these include, sexual touching, winking of eyes, physical advances, sexual propositions, sexual coercion, rape, sexist remarks, obscene cartoons, comments about a man/woman’s sexuality, extended glares, firm sexual handshakes, lewd comments, vulgarity, stalking, quid pro quo/sexual bribery, sexual provocation (i.e. arousing sexual urge in males predisposing them to sexually harass females).
How would you identify someone who has been sexually harassed or one who commits the act?
Traits of the harassed may be difficult to identify because it is usually an issue of embarrassment and shrouded in secrecy. But usually all victims feel dirty, despondent, guilty, ashamed, angry and unsafe.
Sexual harassment is regarded as one of the victimless crimes because of the culture of silence that usually surrounds it.
Unfortunately the traits of a sexual offender could be or usually is someone you know, has a sexual partner, not starved of sex, may have been abused/ harassed at childhood or is likely to sexually assault again if not treated.
Other factors could be that the offender may act macho or domineering, look to overpower, control and humiliate somebody, in some cases usually have few close friends, come from all sociodemographic categories and blame the victim “she asked for it”, “everybody does it”.
All these traits may not be found in one person.
Are there consequences to sexual harassment?
The effects of sexual harassment can vary depending on the individual, severity and duration of the harassment. Psychologists and social workers report that severe/ chronic sexual harassment can have the same psychological effect as rape or sexual assault (Koss, 1990). Some common professional, academic, financial and social effects of sexual harassment are: decrease in work or school performance, increased absenteeism from work place, loss of job or career, loss of income and having to drop courses, change academic plan or leave school (loss of tuition).
Others could be having one personal life offered up to public scrutiny—the victim becomes the “accused”, and his or her dress lifestyle, and private life will often come under attack. (Note: this rarely occurs for the perpetrators). The victim is often objectified and humiliated by scrutiny and gossip, he or she becomes publicly sexualized (i.e. groups of people “evaluate” the victim to establish if there are “worth” the sexual attention or the risk to the harasser’s career).
Unfortunately defamation of character and reputation, loss of trust in environment similar to where the harassment occurred, loss of trust in the types of people that occupy similar positions as the harasser or their colleagues, are also suffered by the victim.
The victim undergoes extreme stress upon relationship with significant other, sometimes resulting in divorce; extreme stress on peer relationships, or relationship with colleagues, weakening of support network, or being ostracized from professional or academic circles; friends, colleagues, or family may distance themselves from the victim, or shun them altogether.
Some even relocate to another town, change job, or school.