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Sexual harassment in the work environment
Case studies of sexual harassment in the workplace
Sexual harassment in the work environment
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Have you ever witness someone in a workplace setting being abused sexually due to their type of sex? The majority of people who work in offices and workplace settings have said that they have witness first-hand harassment of the female sex from their the more dominated male sex (Johnson). Over the course of many generations, women have usually been seen as to stay in the home and only cook, clean, and take care of the kids. Usually, in these situations, the dominant male in the family is the bread winner and makes the money that the family needs to have to live a nice life off of. As more generations past, more and more woman are starting to leave the kitchen and finally get jobs in office buildings and workplace environments. With more …show more content…
Sexual harassment is not limited to just one type of form. Rather than coming in a single form, sexual harassment can come in many different forms that can be caused by a wide range of people and can be interpreted completely different when it comes in the eyes of others (Barreio). A typical observer believes that sexual harassment is an offense only done by men in the workplace, but these people are actually wrong. Sexual harassment is a neutral gender offense, as a woman can sexually harass a man and vice-versa. However, though, statistics show overwhelmingly that men actually sexually harass woman more (Barreio). Over the course of one’s career, 54% of people will witness or be the victim of a sexual harassment incident, while 12% of people who are victims of a sexual harassment incident are given threats of termination if they do not comply to the aggressor (Association of Woman for Action and Research). Some examples of sexual harassment in the workplace can be uninviting touching, uninvited kisses or embraces, smutty jokes or comments, making promises in turn for sexual favors, repeated invitations to go out after prior refusals, stalking, offensive phone calls or letters, and requests for sex (Australian Human Rights …show more content…
There are different ways to discipline an employee who has committed the sexual harassment. An employer can be harsh and strict on the employee, but can also be lenient and easy, which is the inappropriate and wrong way to go in the eyes of the employer. Next, the employer will have to teach and train their employees on how to prevent and know what constitutes as sexual harassment in the workplace. Employers can set up seminars, keynote speakers, and even an acting group to portray the horrors of everyday sexual harassment that takes place in a normal workplace. Hopefully, this will get in the mind of every single employee of the employer and the same incident will ever happen again in the office. To make sure that the employees retain the information they took in during the presentation, employers can come into contact with their employees and actually test them and see if they remember the information that they learn. This does not have to be frequent at all, but can probably be around every couple of weeks and even sometimes months (Graves). If it happens that majority of the employees of the employers do not hold any of the information they learned back when they watch the presentation, then the employer can then hire the presenter or another presenter again to teach the employer’s employees about the wrongfulness of sexual harassment in the typical workplace
In Chapter 11 of William Shaw’s The Organization and the People in It goes over issue of sexual harassment in the workplace and its effects. Sexual harassment is defined as the “unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature”, most reports of sexual harassment are from women accusing men however men accusing women is becoming more prevalent in todays society (Shaw, p.444). Sexual harassment is a moral issues because a person becomes a victim by means of verbal comments, gestures, or physical contact of a sexual nature and not being able to refuse them without fear that something worse will happen.
For instance, a representative's unmistakable occupation conditions are influenced when a sexually antagonistic workplace results in her helpful release. Additionally, a boss who makes sexual advances toward a subordinate representative may convey a certain threat to unfavorably influence her employment status in the event that she doesn't go along. Hostile environment badgering may procure qualities of "quid pro quo" harassment if the culpable boss misuses his power over job choices to compel the casualty to persevere or take part in the sexual behavior. Sexual harassment may finish in a retaliatory release if a victim tells the harasser or her employer she will no more submit to the badgering, and is then terminated in striking back for this challenge. “To guarantee a work environment free from inappropriate behavior, associations can take after some essential steps. Initially, the association can build up a strategy proclamation making it clear that sexual harassment won't go on without serious consequences in the working environment. Second, all employees, new and old, can be prepared to distinguish improper working environment conduct. What's more, the association can add to a component for reporting sexual harassment in a manner that urges individuals to stand up. Finally, administration can get ready to act quickly to teach the individuals who take part in sexual harassment, and also to secure the victims of inappropriate behavior (Noe,
...rrounding the victim. Thus, it should be taken seriously and investigated immediately and thoroughly. Not only does sexual harassment create a hostile environment for the company's employees, it creates an environment which may offend prospective clients and permanently taints the company's reputation.
According to legal dictionary (2013), sexual harassment refers to any form of unwelcome sexual behavior or advances, appeals for sexual errands, and other form of physical or verbal conduct or behavior that portrays sex nature and tends to make the working environment offensive or hostile. Any behavior or remarks that take such forms constitute sexual harassment when: Compliance to such conduct happens either implicitly or explicitly based on employment of an individual, rejection or compliance to such conduct is used to make decisions during employment and when such conduct interferes or affects performance of a person at the workplace. Sexual harassment ta...
In “A distressing summer of workplace sexism reminds us how far we have to go” by Susanna Schrobsdorff, the author states, “according to a Pew Research survey released in August, most American men—56%— think sexism is over and done with. More than half believe that “the obstacles that once made it harder or women than men to get ahead are now largely gone. Of course, most women—63%—disagree” (Schrobsdorff 55). The misbelief that sexism still does not exist allows for the culture in which women continue to only be seen as sexual objects and not competent workers. Ehrenreich describes that, “[you should] watch out for Lon, who has a habit of following his female coworkers into service closets” (Ehrenreich 64). Ehrenreich is warned about a potential harassing employee and that it may happen to you, but most importantly, the behavior is normalized instead of trying to stop it. In “Not Just Fox” by Katha Pollitt, she explains that there is a misconception when it comes to being harassed and it is that, “being harassed is not a matter of weakness; it’s about the enormous power differential between worker and boss” (Pollitt 6). This is further supported by “ a 2015 Cosmopolitan survey, 71% of women said they did not file complaints about sexual harassment, likely because they feared appearing difficult or ‘too sensitive.’And they worry about retaliation and job security” (Schrobsdorff 55). Sometimes the person that is doing the harassing is the supervisor or the manager, when this occurs the victim is left with little options that will not disrupt the workplace. She also runs the possibility of being fired solely to avoid a sexual harassment complaint that she may file against him. Ehrenreich states that, “as a dietary aide, as I understand the job, is dependent on a cook as a waitress is[;] He or she
According to Webster’s online dictionary, it is believed that the phrase “sexual harassment” was coined at Cornell University in 1974 ("Sexual harassment," 2011). The phrase wasn’t, however, really used in common language until the testimony of Anita Hill against Clarence Thomas in 1991. Sexual harassment can take many different shapes and forms. According to a Fox News article, the sexual harassment claims made by men have increased twofold in the last twenty years ("Sexual harassment claims," 2010). Because sexual harassment is illegal both on a federal and state level in many states, there are steps that an individual and employer should take to prevent sexual harassment.
It is estimated that nine out of ten women will be victims of sexual advances at work. The courts are making it easier to hold a company liable for any sexual harassment behavior that occurs within the workplace. The employer does not even need to know that the sexual harassment is taking place for an employee to file a suit and win. It is almost impossible to find a ?solution? or ?magic key? that will end the problem. There is no guarantee that anything will prevent sexual harassment from happening. There are only suggestions that might help in depleting the problem.
Sexual harassment is so ordinary in the workforce that frequently we fail to even recognize harassing behavior as immoral. This is because so many of us--women and men alike--have become desensitized to offensive behaviors. Sexual harassment in any form is unacceptable behavior and should not be tolerated by anyone. It undermines our ability to study, to work, and to feel like effective, empowered people in the world.
For some, sexual harassment and assault seem almost like myths or bad dreams. For others, it's a living reality. The United States Department of Justice defines sexual assault as “any type of sexual contact or behavior that occurs without the explicit consent of the recipient.” Sexual harassment and assault are demeaning, terrifying, and forceful behaviors. And yet, it’s happening every day. People hollering out car windows at pedestrians. Groups of teenagers terrifying
Do people know when and how to report Sexual Harassment? Why do you think some people never report it? There are many different types of Sexual Harassment like sexual abuse in men and women, sexual abuse in the military, workplace, colleges and almost everywhere. It is a huge problem everywhere and the issue isn 't brought up as much because it isn 't reported or people who are behind the assault scare victims into believing that they will be in trouble or are embarrassed. Once more women and men start reporting or even just informing more people of what is sexual harassment is, that way they know how and when to report it.
THESIS STATEMENT: In today’s society 40 percent of the nation’s 55 million working women have experienced sexual harassment in the workplace.
KANE-URRABAZO, C. (2007). Sexual harassment in the workplace: it is your problem. Journal Of Nursing Management, 15(6), 608-613. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2834.2007.00725.x
The only solution to tackling this situation is to speak up when this situation happens to someone. Encourage the victim of sexual harassment to come forward and report to proper authorities as soon as possible. The longer the victim waits, the less probability that it will be corrected. If there is someone out there that has been a victim of harassment, confront the person regarding the situation. Call for help and consult with your local HR representative or appropriate authority.
My personal experiences aren’t exactly direct, but it gave me a firsthand view on how this issue is sometimes hard to recognize but very prominent in society today. Studies show that being sexually harassed can affect and devastate your psychological health, physical well-being and vocational development. Therefore, it’s better to be aware of the history, and behavioral concepts of this issue to avoid it from happening to you. Sexual harassment is a growing problem in today's workplace. The signs and causes of harassment are not always easy to detect.
In addition to legal measures, many governments, employers’ and workers’ organizations, and other bodies are using a range of techniques to prevent sexual harassment and help its victims. Governments, for example, issue guidance on how to design anti-sexual harassment measures and to offer counselling to workers who have been targeted. Workers’ and employers’ organizations are producing model policies and collective agreement clauses, issuing guidance on complying with laws, conducting research and providing training. At the workplace, growing numbers of employers are introducing sexual harassment policies and complaints procedures. Moreover, there appears to be an emerging consensus around what workplace policies should contain and the steps to be taken to implement them, which can be used by those employers who have yet to take action.