Beyond the Bedroom A Look at Sexual Culture
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Understanding and Preventing Sexual Harassment
Sexual harassment is a form of gender-based discrimination that can ruin people’s lives, have detrimental effects on the workplace, and leave lasting trauma on the victims. It is important to understand the causes and manifestations of sexual harassment so that we can work to prevent it from occurring in the first place.
Symptoms of Sexual Harassment
Sexual harassment can take many forms and cause physical, emotional, and psychological harm. Some of the most common symptoms of sexual harassment include:
- Unwelcome physical contact: such as unwanted touching, hugging, kissing, groping, or any physical form of unwanted sexual advances.
- Verbal harassment: such as jokes of a sexual nature, sexual insults, or any other type of verbal conduct of a sexual nature that is unwanted.
- Visual harassment: such as unwanted sexual gestures, graphic images, or any type of visual conduct of a sexual nature that is unwanted or offensive.
- Cyber harassment: such as sending sexual messages or images via email, text or social media.
Causes of Sexual Harassment
The causes of sexual harassment can vary greatly, but there are some common factors. These include:
- Power dynamics: when one person holds more power than the other in a professional setting, they may use this power to make sexual advances or otherwise make the person feel uncomfortable.
- Cultural norms: when certain cultural norms and beliefs lead to certain behaviors, such as disrespecting women or the objectification of women, this can lead to an environment in which sexual harassment thrives.
- Lack of education: when people are not aware of their rights, they may be more likely to be a victim or perpetrator of sexual harassment.
- Failure to recognize inappropriate behavior: when unwanted behavior is not addressed, people may continue to engage in it, leading to a culture in which it is accepted or ignored.
Preventing Sexual Harassment
The best way to prevent sexual harassment is to create an environment where all employees are respected and given equal opportunities. Here are a few ways to do this:
- Set Clear Policies: Make sure all employees know what is considered inappropriate behavior and that they understand any possible repercussions.
- Provide Training: Regularly provide training on how to prevent and respond to sexual harassment, as well as how to handle potential incidents.
- Ensure an Open Door Policy: Make sure all employees feel comfortable reporting any signs of sexual harassment and that you take all reports seriously.
- Raise Awareness: Ensure that all employees understand the damage sexual harassment can cause and why it must not be tolerated.
Sexual harassment is a serious issue that needs to be addressed in the workplace. By understanding the causes and symptoms of sexual harassment, as well as implementing policies and training to prevent it, organizations can create a safe and welcoming workplace for everyone.