scholarly journals Workplace Sexual Harassment and its Underreporting in Pakistan

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 148
Author(s):  
Abdul Hadi

Sexual harassment in workplace is a reflection of unequal power relationship among genders and should not be seen as isolated cases emanating from psychological or criminal roots. The practice of sexual harassment in the workplace occurs in occupations and industries which turns working environment for women into stressful, damaging, and hostile and make it difficult for them to achieve their rightful place in employment. Sexual harassment in the workplace is the most frequent form of gender-based violence occurring in Pakistani society characterized by patriarchy and gender segregation. When women attempt to join workforce and take economic responsibilities of family in opposite to predominating social norms, they have to suffer from sexual harassment. This speaks not just to the structure of the work place, but the entrenched culture of female objectification, which quite often paints women as mere recipients for male desire – views that are reproduced and perpetuated in a work place. This study is an endeavor to spot the causes of sexual harassment in the workplace in Pakistan; and what are the underlying factors which lead to under-reporting of the incidences of sexual harassment in the workplace. This study asserts that the patriarchal values prevailing in Pakistani society breed sexual harassment in the workplace also preclude victims to report the incidence by not giving them appropriate moral, cultural and legal support. This study argues that in an environment like Pakistan where rule of law is not prevalent in entire society so just having policies and awareness regarding these policies could not be a valid and significant element for lowering the sexual harassment experience in the workplace. Sexual Harassment in the workplace reflects the unequal power relationships between genders in patriarchy society of Pakistan and cannot be combated until patriarchal mindsets are changed which can be achieved only by transforming the existing patriarchal society itself that is producing such mindsets.

2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 148
Author(s):  
Abdul Hadi

Sexual harassment in workplace is a reflection of unequal power relationship among genders and should not be seen as isolated cases emanating from psychological or criminal roots. The practice of sexual harassment in the workplace occurs in occupations and industries which turns working environment for women into stressful, damaging, and hostile and make it difficult for them to achieve their rightful place in employment. Sexual harassment in the workplace is the most frequent form of gender-based violence occurring in Pakistani society characterized by patriarchy and gender segregation. When women attempt to join workforce and take economic responsibilities of family in opposite to predominating social norms, they have to suffer from sexual harassment. This speaks not just to the structure of the work place, but the entrenched culture of female objectification, which quite often paints women as mere recipients for male desire – views that are reproduced and perpetuated in a work place. This study is an endeavor to spot the causes of sexual harassment in the workplace in Pakistan; and what are the underlying factors which lead to under-reporting of the incidences of sexual harassment in the workplace. This study asserts that the patriarchal values prevailing in Pakistani society breed sexual harassment in the workplace also preclude victims to report the incidence by not giving them appropriate moral, cultural and legal support. This study argues that in an environment like Pakistan where rule of law is not prevalent in entire society so just having policies and awareness regarding these policies could not be a valid and significant element for lowering the sexual harassment experience in the workplace. Sexual Harassment in the workplace reflects the unequal power relationships between genders in patriarchy society of Pakistan and cannot be combated until patriarchal mindsets are changed which can be achieved only by transforming the existing patriarchal society itself that is producing such mindsets.


Author(s):  
Alexandra Columban ◽  
Mihail Buse ◽  
Cornelia Macarie

Academia is one of the main hubs for promoting gender equality and non-discrimination, yet very few programs in Romania actively tackle the topic. An assessment of students’ perceptions is thus necessary in order to identify the level of awareness around gender issues and potential barriers hindering an inclusive academic environment. The present exploratory study aims to fill this gap by providing information on four dimensions of gender equality: attitudes towards gender equality, prevalence of gender stereotypes, gender-based violence and sexual harassment, and gender-based discrimination. The questionnaire was applied online and offline between October 2018 and March 2019 to 275 students enrolled in Bachelor, Master and Doctoral studies at BabeșBolyai University, Cluj-Napoca. The study found that students had a rather high awareness about gender issues in general and held favorable views towards gender equality and its enforcement. However, female students were more prone to stereotype, claiming more traits for themselves, and were more likely than their male counterparts to experience sexual harassment and discrimination regarding professional promotion. A series of implications for practitioners and recommendations are also discussed.


2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 72-93
Author(s):  
Rafia Naz Ali ◽  
Johar Wajahat ◽  
Muhammad Jan

The 3 P's, i.e., the security, promotion, and provision of fundamental rights to its people, are widely regarded as the hallmarks of an effective legal system. These 3Ps are enforced in both formal and informal legal structures. Gender-based violence (GBV) at work is the most well-known form of GBV in our culture, which is marked by patriarchy and gender segregation. When harassment occurs in the workplace, it makes a female's working experience unpleasant, harmful, and aggressive. It makes it difficult for her to obtain a legitimate position and respect in the workplace. According to a survey, 77 percent of Pakistani women employed in different occupations are unaware of their human rights in cases of sexual abuse. According to the National Commission on the Status of Women, 50 percent of women interviewed from the public and private sectors had been sexually harassed and were hesitant to report the truth. The Protection against Harassment of Women at Workplace Act of 2010 was enacted in Pakistan's history to protect women from mischief and ensure a safe workplace. It manifested constitutional protections enlisted under Fundamental rights. Non-traditional job structures, such as farm work, domestic and home-based work, are part of Pakistan's socio-economic culture. Even on non-traditional job bases, the Act of 2010 made it possible to directly contact the Office of Ombudsperson or file a criminal complaint. This article aims to examine the current state and efficacy of workplace discrimination legislation.


2019 ◽  
pp. 152483801988173
Author(s):  
L. B. Klein ◽  
Sandra L. Martin

Increased attention to Title IX and the #MeToo movement has led to more interest in developing strategies to prevent forms of gender-based violence beyond acquaintance rape, including sexual harassment (SH). This study reviewed the extant literature published since 2000 on SH of college/university students ( n = 24) to determine (a) study methods, (b) sample sociodemographic characteristics, (c) prevalence, (d) risk and protective factors, and (e) consequences of campus SH. These studies shared the view that overall SH rates are high, but their findings were difficult to cross-evaluate due to variations in their study designs. Generally, unwanted sexual attention and gender harassment were more commonly experienced in campus SH occurrences than sexual coercion. Findings indicated that being White, a woman, or a sexual minority increased a student’s likelihood of experiencing SH while at a college/university. Student SH survivors rarely filed official reports but often faced a variety of mental and physical health consequences. Women of color experienced lower rates of SH but more severe consequences in the aftermath. This review concludes by detailing several implications for future research, as well as possible campus SH prevention, intervention, and policy protocols.


2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mar Joanpere Foraster ◽  
Teresa Morlà

The participation of men in the feminist movement and the solidarity struggle with victims has been repeatedly questioned by both sexes, as well as their contributions and their solidarity with women. Despite this questioning, throughout history there was men who have positioned themselves against sexism and gender violence, in favor of affective or emotional/sexual or sexual relations, totally free of violence. This article is developed through an auto narrative of a case of overcoming sexual harassment thanks to the interaction and masculine intervention in support and solidarity to the victims of gender-based violence. The narrative is evidenced with the scientific contributions of the main feminist researchers on the new masculinities’ topic. The specific case that succeed in the context of university constitutes a reference of action for men who are positioned with women in the fight against gender violence.


Author(s):  
Abdul Hadi

Patriarchal values are embedded in Pakistani society which determines the subordinated position of women. Patriarchal control over women is exercised through institutionalized restrictive codes of behavior, gender segregation and the ideology which associates family honor to female virtue. The abnormal, amoral, and harmful customary practices which aim at preserving subjugation of women, defended and sanctified as cultural traditions and given religious overtones. Abnormal and amoral traditional practices in Pakistan include honor killing, rape and sexual assault, sexual harassment, acid attacks, being burned, kidnapping, domestic violence, dowry murder, and forces marriages, custodial abuse and torture. According to a 2011 poll of experts by the Thomson Reuters Foundation Poll, Pakistan is ranked the 3rd the most dangerous country for women in the world. This paper aims to highlight the sufferings of women in Pakistan and consider that in patriarchal societies violence has been used as a social mechanism to perpetuate the subjugation of women. Patriarchal system necessitates the violence for the sake of its existence. With the help of existing data, the gender-based violence in Pakistan has been analyzed. This paper concludes that all forms of gender-based violence are committed to ensure the compliance of women. In order to eliminate violence against women, patriarchal system has to be changed which can be achieved by strengthening the social, political and economic position of women.


2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 72-93
Author(s):  
Rafia Naz Ali ◽  
Johar Wajahat ◽  
Mohammad Jan

The 3 P's, i.e., the security, promotion, and provision of fundamental rights to its people, are widely regarded as the hallmarks of an effective legal system. These 3Ps are enforced in both formal and informal legal structures. Gender-based violence (GBV) at work is the most well-known form of GBV in our culture, which is marked by patriarchy and gender segregation. When harassment occurs in the workplace, it makes a female's working experience unpleasant, harmful, and aggressive. It makes it difficult for her to obtain a legitimate position and respect in the workplace. According to a survey, 77 percent of Pakistani women employed in different occupations are unaware of their human rights in cases of sexual abuse. According to the National Commission on the Status of Women, 50 percent of women interviewed from the public and private sectors had been sexually harassed and were hesitant to report the truth. The Protection against Harassment of Women at Workplace Act of 2010 was enacted in Pakistan's history to protect women from mischief and ensure a safe workplace. It manifested constitutional protections enlisted under Fundamental rights. Non-traditional job structures, such as farm work, domestic and home-based work, are part of Pakistan's socio-economic culture. Even on non-traditional job bases, the Act of 2010 made it possible to directly contact the Office of Ombudsperson or file a criminal complaint. This article aims to examine the current state and efficacy of workplace discrimination legislation.


2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (14) ◽  
pp. 5-14
Author(s):  
Bruna Aparecida Rodrigues Duarte ◽  
Fernanda Galvão ◽  
Glaucia Nunes Diniz de Oliveira Esmeraldo ◽  
Et Al

A violência de gênero tem perdurado há anos gerando a necessidade de discutir os fatores desencadeadores e comuns nesse cenário, como, a relação de poder e a relação íntima com o agressor. Nesse sentido, levando em consideração o contexto atual, o presente estudo objetivou apresentar as discussões de um grupo de estudo a respeito da relação da pandemia e aumento do índice de violência de gênero. Foram levantadas algumas categorias para discutir o assunto, sendo: As faces da violência baseada no gênero; Isolamento social e violência de gênero; Estratégias para constatação e diminuição dos casos de violência. É perceptível que o fenômeno da violência sempre existiu, porém, devido a alguns fatores do isolamento o deixou mais aparente e discutível. Paravras-chave: Violência de Gênero. Pandemia Covid 19.Relação de poder.   Abstract Gender-based violence has persisted for years, generating the need to discuss the triggering and common factors in this scenario, such as the power relationship and the intimate relationship with the aggressor. In this sense, taking into account the current context, the present study aimed to present the discussions of a study group regarding the relationship of the pandemic and the in crease in the rate of gender violence. Some categories  were raised to discuss the subject being: The faces of gender-based violence; Social isolation and gender violence; Strategies for finding and reducing cases of violence. It is notice able that the phenomenon of violence has always existed, but due to some isolation factors it has become more apparent and debatable. Keywords: Gender Violence. Pandemic Covid 19. The Power Relationship.


2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 116-133 ◽  
Author(s):  
Myriam Vuckovic ◽  
Annette Altvater ◽  
Linda Helgesson Sekei ◽  
Kristina Kloss

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the causes, forms, extent, and consequences of sexual harassment and sexual violence at public sector workplaces in Tanzania. Design/methodology/approach A total of 1,593 civil servants participated in the survey, which was conducted in the Mtwara Region of Tanzania. The quantitative data were complemented with the results from eight focus group discussions. Findings The study revealed that 21 percent of women and 12 percent of men had experienced sexual harassment personally. Overall, rural-based public servants had less knowledge of relevant policies, and experienced more sexual harassment than their urban colleagues. The majority of perpetrators were identified as men in senior positions; the majority of victims were recognized to be young female employees. Frequently reported behaviors included sexual bribery with regard to resource allocation, promotions, allowances, and other benefits. Practical implications Despite the existence of conducive legal and policy frameworks aimed at protecting employees from sexual harassment and violence, their implementation and effects were found to be limited. Only half of the study population was aware of the existing regulations. The study found that the majority of public servants who had knowledge on the issue had learned about sexual harassment in the context of an HIV/AIDS workplace program. This finding indicates that well-designed workplace interventions can play an important role in creating awareness, addressing gender stereotypes, and informing employees about their personal rights and responsibilities. Originality/value Sexual harassment and gender-based violence at the workplace has never been studied before in Tanzania. The study provides practical recommendations for future preventive interventions.


2020 ◽  
Vol 49 (2) ◽  
pp. 105-112

This sample of photos from 16 August–15 November 2019 aims to convey a sense of Palestinian life during this quarter. The images capture Palestinians across the diaspora as they fight to exercise their rights: to run for office, to vote, and to protest both Israeli occupation and gender-based violence.


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