Sexual harassment in the workplace.

Sexual harassment in the workplace.

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Sexual harassment in the workplace.

Sexual harassment can be thought to be sexual behavior directed towards someone, and this behavior is unwelcoming, humiliating, intimidating, offensive, or degrading in nature. Men are responsible for the majority of sexual harassment offenses, especially in the workplace. Many of these cases occur due to power, but some are just naïve and bad behavior. Many sexual harassment victims do not report these cases in fear of job loss or other unforeseen circumstances due to power differences. This paper will respond to a presentation on sexual harassment by Rebecca Jarvis describing what the victims go through and what can be done to stop this crime.

The presentation from Rebecca Jarvis brings ten women from different professional backgrounds who have all experienced sexual harassment. Women suffer from sexual harassment in the workplace in several ways. This harassment may occur in derogatory jokes, insults, name-calling, catcalling, and mean comments on their incompetence, and so on. Some other forms might be direct sexual references by asking for sexual favors or even inappropriate touching. Another way of sexual harassment is the stereotyping of feminine qualities and using them to degrade women.

In Rebecca’s presentation, out of the ten women interviewed, only two made a complaint to human resources. The reasons given by the women for not reporting were; they didn’t feel important to the workplace, or they feared for their careers. The lack of speaking out when this harassment happens only facilitates its prevalence and spread. However, there are valid reasons why women do not report these cases. As said in the interview, most victims fear to lose their jobs because most of these cases occur from a power position. Some of these complaints might even be ignored if they will result in a company’s bad image. The consequences of speaking out might be dire in comparison to remaining silent and brushing it off.

Sexual harassment has adverse psychological effects on the victims and should be put to an end. It creates a hostile working environment for the victims’ mental state and sometimes even affects their productivity. Companies should, therefore, have structures to ensure this does not happen. The companies should draft policies that stipulate what amounts to sexual harassment, channels of reporting, and the consequences of those found guilty. Once a complaint is made, the company should investigate the incident thoroughly to ensure the culprit is reprimanded or let off to ensure the workplace remains safe. The companies should also train their employees on their rights to protect them from sexual harassment. The training should also seek to educate the workers to understand what sexual harassment is to ensure there is no misunderstanding.

The Rebecca presentation also suggests that society has a role to play in limiting this crime. Parents should educate their male children on sexual harassment and the need to respect women. They also suggest that top officials from companies stand up against these practices. Organizational structure is essential in kicking out this menace just as society’s participation is vital.

Sexual harassment is a problem and a crime that should not be accepted to exist in the workplace and society. It causes toxic work environments that affect victims’ mental health and lead to poor work environments with poor results. Companies must make their workplaces free from this vice by persecuting any offenders. Society should also play a part in educating young adults on their rights and responsibility in respecting women.

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