Sexual Harassment: Uncovering the Pervasive Issue and Its Consequences

Abstract

Instructor’s Name Sexual harassment is an eminent problem today, yet little research has been done about it. This problem remains passive and underreported, and no adequate legislation condemns it. Sexual harassment is a violation of human rights and a form of sex discrimination (Hersch, 2015). Sexual harassment is a form of unwelcome behavior that is humiliating, intimidating, or offensive. It does not only relate to sexual behavior but extends to negativity toward women online or in person. Some forms of sexual harassment include unwelcomed hugging, kissing, sexual comments, touching, or inappropriate sex. Sexual harassment occurs in many places; it can be in a learning environment, workplaces, streets, or victims' homes. Sexual harassment is awful and has consequences for declining productivity in many institutions. This discussion will focus on sexual harassment from a broad perspective. There are various forms of sexual harassment. They include; a request for sex in favor of good grades, promotions, a job, or an increment in salaries, deliberate unwelcome touching, kissing, or pinching, pressure for sexual activity, sexual graffiti, demeaning remarks on gender, sexually suggestive gestures and comments, and embarrassing sexual favoritism especially in schools by teachers towards the students. Gender, age, and social status significantly impact sexual harassment. Although sexual harassment involves both men and women, women are the most victims worldwide (Bondestam et al., 2020). Victims are predominantly women, while men are the perpetrators. Men often believe women are welcome for sexual harassment and demeaning sexual behaviors. Gender and sexual harassment pertain to cultural stereotypes that perceive women as inferior beings and sexual objects. Women victims are often of a younger age, in male-dominated positions, in subordinate positions, and with little supervision around them. Age is associated with sexual harassment. Men consider young girls and women attractive and condone sexual activity. Young girls are often naïve, and most sexual harassment they experience goes unreported since they are afraid and the perpetrators take advantage of it. Women of low social status, especially in the workplace, are more vulnerable to sexual harassment from their seniors. Most employers seek sexual favors for promotions or to maintain their jobs, forcing them to bear the awful circumstances. Sexual harassment has huge psychological detriments to its victims; For instance, headaches, anxiety, depression, self-esteem issues, sexual disinterest and dysfunction, and health complications. Since sexual harassment often occurs in workplaces, it damages interpersonal relationships, causes absenteeism, causes job losses due to firing, decreases morale and job satisfaction, and decreases productivity. In school, victims of sexual harassment lose interest in their academics and may be forced to drop or fail a class. The perpetrators of sexual harassment often face the violation of the law, state and federal statutes, termination of their employment, suspensions, reassignments, and...