All You Need to Know About Harassment | Just Query

What Is Harassment?

Harassment is the behavior of an offensive nature. It is intentional behavior which is very threatening. It includes sexual harassment or unwelcome sexual advances requests for sexual favors and other physical harassment. It is humiliating or intimidating and most importantly its against the law. 

Sexual Harassment

Sexual harassment can be written, verbal or physical and can happen in person on online. Sexual harassment is above all a manifestation of power relations, women are much more likely to be the victims of sexual harassment previously because they more often than men lack power are in more vulnerable and insecure positions, lack self-confidence or have been socialized to suffer in silence. 

In the legal sense, these are behaviors that appear to be disturbing, upsetting not threatening. It refers to persistent and unwanted sexual advances even after gently refusing typically in the workspace. Where the consequences are potentially very disadvantageous to the victim if there is a power imbalance between the perpetrator. It is commonly understood as behavior that demands and embarrasses a person. 

Sexual Harassment Or Eve-teasing Is Same?

In India, sexual harassment is termed as eve-teasing and is described as sexual gestures or behavior directly or indirectly as physical touch, verbal, non-verbal conduct being sexual in nature, passing sexually offensive comments or any other such behavior. It’s actual or attempted rape, sexual assault, unwanted pressure for sexual favors, deliberate touch, leaning over unwanted sexual looks, yokes, and remarks, etc.

Harassment with Only Women?

 women in the Indian society has been considered as the inferior to be a man from ancient times. Because of this inferiority, they face many problems in their lives. They have to do a lot of struggle to prove themselves as equivalent to men. 

Harassment At Workplace

They also have harassment at their workspace too. Sexual harassment at workspace us a very serious problem that needs to be dealt with an iron fist and seriously. Even it is illegal to harras women by making offensive comments about women in general. The men always think that women are considered only as an object to fulfill their sexual desires. We might respect the women at home but other women in the society, many crimes committed against women shows that our claim is nothing but falsity. 

Age Is Not A Concern For Harassers

Harassment could take place anywhere at any time by anyone and in any form. It could happen in a public place, school, educational institutes, workplace even at home. It indicates that it is not safe for girls to move out of their houses. Even age is not a concern. Either a little school going girl or a middle-aged lady all are the same in the eyes of harassers. Harassers are just like hungry beasts who just want to pray to satisfy their hunger. Every second girl in the worker has to face such situations daily. One of the difficulties in understanding harassment is that it involves a range of behavior, and is often difficult for the recipient to describe to themselves and to others, exactly what they are experiencing. Moreover, behavior and motives vary between individual harassers. However many situations can and do have life-altering effects particularly when they involve serve abuses or retaliation against a victim who does not submit to the harassment or who complains about it openly.

Cause Of Sexual Harassment

The cause of sexual harassment varies from person to person and from situation to situation. These are many other caused by sexual assault against women especially because of the narrow view of society. Rape is a common form of sexual assault. Moral values should be given so that the men can see girls/women in a respective sight. 

What Should Girl/Women Do?

Women harassment is illegal. If a girl is being harassed then she need not be afraid but try to fight against it and get the harasser punished. If she is being sexually harassed then she should tell someone who could help her. Tell the person who is harassing you that his behavior offends you. A clear message should be given to stop. File a written or verbal complaint to the highest authority like the teacher, manager, boss or your parents specifying the who situation with accurate time and date. And nowadays there are many government’s helplines, emergency number, a girl should always have it with her. Even after so many efforts of the law India, the cases for sexual harassment have seen no decline. The people who are assigned for our help, are now themselves are seen as harassers in many cases.

Clearly, the provisions and laws need to be more comprehensive to provide a means of justice to those who have been victims. You can help someone who is abused or who has been assaulted by listening and offering comfort. Go with her to the police, the hospital or to counseling. Reinforce the message that she is not at fault and that it is natural to feel angry and ashamed. Get immediate help and support.