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11/20/2014

Bankers Adda: SBI PO: Essay on "Sexual harassment in workplace causes and remedies"

SBI PO: Essay on "Sexual harassment in workplace causes and


remedies"
Hello Readers,
In view of the upcoming SBI PO Exam 2014, here we are presenting to you
an essay on "Sexual harassment in workplace causes and remedies." Hope
you like the post!

The increasing incidences of Sexual Harassment at Workplace in India have


emerged as a major concern for the society. Though the legal definition of
Sexual Harassment does not distinguish a particular sex but it is
predominately experienced by women at workplace.
Recent cases against retired Supreme Court Justice A K Ganguly and
Tehalkas Managing Editor Tarun Tejpal have sparked a fuming debate all
across the country on how safe women actually are at workplace.
On one hand there are talks of women liberalization and their changing
position in the society while on the other they continuously face humiliation.
This comes as a great setback to the efforts of those who are striving for
gender equality in the society.
Taking note of the inadequacy of the then civil and penal laws to provide
protection to women at workplace, the Supreme Court of India laid down the
Vishaka guidelines on August 13, 1997 for prevention and redressal of sexual
harassment and exploitation as well as their abidance under Article 141 of the
constitution.
It took 15 long years for these guidelines to be transformed into The Sexual
Harassment of Women at Workplace Act which was brought into force on
December 9, 2013. Concerning the intricacy of the issue, this Act serves as
a mere piece of legislation drafted with an aim to tranquilize the public
outrage against growing sexual crimes all over the country. In order to
formulate laws that provide effective and meaningful remediation, it is
incumbent to take a deep insight into the causes leading to sexual
harassment.
There are several reasons that lead to Sexual Harassment at Workplace. The
principal cause being psychological issues faced by men. Their unwelcome
and undesirable behavior is a result of their notions of masculinity and
dominance over women. Majority of men who though superficially support the
idea of gender equality believe that they have the right to sex regardless of
consent. Their primary belief is that household work is a womans job while
earning livelihood is that of a man. This attitude makes them reluctant to
work under female superiors.
Further the frustration of losing their rights in the name of gender equality
aggravates the problem. Some men who themselves have been subjected to
sexual abuse in the past as children are also associated with sexual
harassment of women. High level of depression and anxiety, drug addiction
and personal problems also invoke men to harass their female colleagues for
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11/20/2014

Bankers Adda: SBI PO: Essay on "Sexual harassment in workplace causes and remedies"

fun and temporary pleasure.


All the more, men who use sexual violence against their spouse or partner
are also quite likely to harass their fellow worker. On the other hand women
usually end up as victims because they cant garner enough courage to fight
for justice which is also their fundamental right.
Raising voice against a superior or even a subordinate, in a male dominated
society which teaches women to be meek and silent, where possibility of
getting justice even after being wronged is meager tells how hard the course
is for the victim. Further women are afraid of the aftermath of any counter
action that could possibly result into bleak future prospects, a somber career
along with adverse embarrassment in the workplace as well as the society.
At several occasions the credibility and the character of the victim is
questioned which intensifies the trauma. This is accompanied by lack of
support from the colleagues, intimidation to settle the issue at the earliest
and pressure to leave the job by the employers.
All these factors compel women to suffer silently. The plight of women in
unorganized sector is even more bothersome as they are completely unaware
of the prevalent laws. Sexual Harassment at workplace is a critical matter of
contention which highlights the importance of working on a broader social
level in order to make not only a particular sex but the society as a whole
more accountable and responsible.
Merely forming redressal committees on the part of employers wont curb this
problem. It is necessary to ensure that these committees are transparent and
capable of resolving the grievances of the appealer.
The employers must check that the curative and penal measures in the
institution are efficient enough to act as a deterrent against sexual
harassment while the employees must be educated about the rights of female
workers and their social responsibility. Since this problem involves the
psychological orientations of two persons the redressal should focus on
diminution of narcissistic differences.
Men usually think that the fairer sex has an edge over them when it comes to
promotion and other growth opportunities in the organization. Thus stress
should be laid on equality of opportunities.
It is thus the duty of employers to ensure that qualification and skill should be
the sole basis of advancement and recognition and a mutual and allencompassing environment exists at the workplace with absolutely no
hostility or envy.
Secondly women workers should be relieved of the social stigma that
surrounds them when they fight against injustice. Their dignity must be
maintained and thus instead of isolating them they must be supported.
India being a developing country is in a phase of social transition with several
social problems. Sexual harassment is an impediment towards gender
equality and social development of India and thus needs to be squared off
immediately so that women in India lead a dignified life.

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