Sexual Harassment And Workplace Relationships Research (Research Paper Sample)

Sexual harassment and workplace relationshipsStudent’s NameInstitution Affiliations
Sexual harassment and workplace relationships
Introduction
The truth concerning sexual harassment and workplace relationship over the last decade has been recognized as a problem that should be addressed to enhance the equal working partnership between both the female and the males in a given organization. The fact that exists in various groups is that when there is an increase of women in a given workforce the idea of sexual harassment at a given level appears to increase. A study conducted by various countries indicates that between 16 percent to 75 percent of a given group of women and 95 percent of female students are undergoing sexual harassment. Also, there is clear evidence which shows that there is more severe under-reporting of workplace sexual harassment (Williams, eta. l, 1999).
The real home where we live now is the place of employment since most of our lifetime we spend at this site. Hence we consider this site to be essential and conducive for both the employees, be it male or female. Thus, any form of behavior that does not create the most reliable conducive environment or threatens the safety of any worker should be addressed as fast as possible so that it cannot affect the morale of the employees as well as the organization productivity (Zapf, & Einarsen, 2001).The most violence recognized in a workplace is the sexual harassment of the women, and this behavior should not be accepted differently with the office romance. It means that both the male and the female in such kind of environment will, on occasion, pursue such relationships. The most important thing the managers should be aware is that harassment and romance are two things that are very distinct issues because one stands for consent while the other implies the opposite.
According to (Zapf, & Einarsen, 2001) the sexual harassment involves physical behavior, emotional as well the psychological and verbal. It also includes less overt messages that are patently degrading and occasional offensive in a given instance. Sexual harassment in a workplace involves things like sexual favors in such a way that its submission is regarded as explicitly or even implicitly a form of employment those results in intimidating or harsh working environment for the employees (Zapf, & Einarsen, 2001). More so it may lead to the extent of physical searches or any type of pregnancy testing due to a refusal of sexual advances. Sexual harassment in the workplace is very costly besides of it being unpleasant.
Purpose of Study
The purpose of this study is;
1 To determine the extent of women sexual harassment in a given workplace.
2 To identify the causes of sexual harassment of women in given workplace.
The Research Questions
1 To what extent do women experience sexual harassment in workplaces?
2 What are the major causes of women sexual harassment a given in workplace?
The significance of the study
Although many women in various states are visualizing multiple emotive issues like rape and violence from other intimate partners the most pressing problem of sexual harassment has been neglected and even it is not being recognized systematically, hence this calls for the study of this research.
The kind of information obtained in this research should be addressed accordingly to create awareness about workplace sexual harassment in various countries or states, in the aim of stimulating multiple discussions among these states to enhance thinking on how to address this issue more effectively (Schneider, eta.l, 1997). It will be more helpful particularly to specific stakeholders that are more concerned with formulating regulations as well as gender policies that are very sensitive in the prevention of sexual harassment in various workplaces.
Definitions regarding sexual harassment
According to (Lim, & Cortina, 2005), various perceptions imply the term sexual harassment among different societies. It depends on how both the males and the females socialize in a given community, basing on the set notions, stereotypes, and the existence of gender in a given workplace. As a result of this, it is not easy to come up with all the list of harassing conduct in a given society that should be prohibited. It is easy to identify specific acts as sexual harassment like the physical contact with the genital areas, kissing, and caressing while other forms of non-verbal, verbal, and physical conduct may not be recognized. It means that sexual harassment may vary depending on cultural as well as social practices that govern individual communities where the exercises are done (Lim, & Cortina, 2005). For example, kissing on the cheek in a given culture may be considered as a reasonable greeting behavior, while other religions, it may be regarded as a form of the sexual advance. Based on this ideology what may maybe acceptable in a given workplace may not be tolerable in other workplaces.
In the last few decades, the international organizations and legislature have recognized and even come up with a definition of various behaviors which constitute of sexual harassment at workplace. Concerning the Equal Employment Opportunities Commission of the United States, there is a proposed guideline that defines the term “sexual” harassment in workplaces (Lim, & Cortina 2005).The commission upholds that any unwelcome sexual advances or any form request of sexual favours to a given employees and any other form of verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature among individuals is regarded as sexual harassment when:
1 The purpose of the behaviour that alters any kind of individual performance or creates working environment that is not conducive to any given worker.
2 Any submission regarding the behaviour of an individual is considered as a true basis for employment decisions, hence interfering with such individuals (Lim, & Cortina, 2005).
The extent of sexual harassment in a given workplace
According to (Fitzgerald, eta. l, 1988), the early studies on sexual harassment concerning women in a given workplace between 50 percent and 92 percent of the respondents were found to have experienced sexual harassment. Recently many of the researchers have also identified that many of female workers experience sexual harassment at their working stations. When this issue is considered globally, it is revealed that about 40 percent and 50 percent of female workers at the workplace have encountered some form of unwanted sexual behaviour or primarily what we refer to sexual harassment. In a country like South Africa, 76 percent of the women respondents accepted to have experienced sexual harassment at work while few of such working companies had policies governing them as revealed by the academic research (Fitzgerald, eta. l, 1988).
The sex ratio of a given occupation in a particular workplace is related directly to the extent of which it faces the sexual harassment. It is true that in a male-dominated job where females are few there is an experience of a high rate of sexual harassment on the side of ladies than males. Although such kind of patterns differ from one country to another, basing on the European Commission women who are between the age of 30 and 40 years, either divorced or even single but having the lower educational level are more likely to encounter the issue of sexual harassment (Fitzgerald, eta. l, 1988). It means the overwhelming in harassers are men, superiors or even colleagues.
The causes of sexual harassment at workplace
The state in which male supervisors are in power, and they are in a position to use their skills to abuse the lower state employees especially women are regarded as sexual harassment. Most of the research surveys have shown that this view is worthwhile because 30 percent of such kinds of incidents are encountered among the sexual harassment perpetrated by most of the senior colleagues as well as supervisors (Ilies, eta. l, 2003). The fact that exists is that many of the causes based on gender harassment are co-related, and they are tightly attached to the norms of the society as well as values and the roles which both men and female plays in society. Like any other form of social context, workplaces are considered to be the sites of power relationships between the male and the female. The way unequal power relationships between the two gender also exists in the workplace similar to home hence making such form of harassment to be considered as usual kind of bullying. The issue of gender results to the sexual harassment at the workplace because most of those who practice it relay on gender inequality as well as cultural beliefs and attitudes concerning gender roles most basically the male and female sexuality. This pattern may also exist due to political unrest and the conflict that more violent (Ilies, eta. l, 2003).
The findings of sexual harassment at workplace
The outcome regarding sexual harassment indeed varies depending on the duration, and the severity of the harassment of an individual. The kind of bull...