Sexual Harassment At Work: What Should Working Mothers Do?

Have you ever felt any uncomfortable situation at the office? Many women in Malaysia have experienced a various type of sexual harassment at work. Photo Credit: Adobe Stock According to the survey conducted by YouGov Omnibus, out of 36% of women had encountered sexual harassment before. Sadly, many women are afraid and keep silent because they feared that no one would trust them. There was still a certain stigma attached to victims reporting such cases. Often the workplace culture and policies are complicit in silencing and not supporting victims. And unfortunately, shame and silence has allowed sexual harassment in Malaysia to thrive. - Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail What is Sexual Harassment? Firstly, we must know what is sexual harassment. Sexual harassment can be verbal or non-verbal which includes unwanted sexual advance and request. Besides that, sexual harassment is also a conduct of unwelcome sexual behaviour which can make someone feel humiliated, offended and intimidated. Most importantly, every act of sexual harassment is an act of non-consensual done by the assaulter. Types of Sexual Harassment According to Equal Rights Advocates, there are few lists of sexual harassment behaviour which are: unwelcome touching; staring or leering; suggestive comments or jokes; sexually explicit pictures or posters; unwanted invitations to go out on dates; requests for sex; intrusive questions about a person's private life or body; unnecessary familiarity, such as deliberately brushing up against a person; insults or taunts based on sex; sexually explicit physical contact; and sexually explicit emails or SMS text messages. What Should You Do? I know how hard it is to experience such unwanted action and it can cause you a traumatic experience. It is understandable when a survivor refuses to report. However, here are some things that you can do if you had experienced sexual assault or experiencing it now. File a report. Did you know that in Malaysia there is an employment act towards sexual harassment in work? Yes, it’s stated in Act 265 Sexual Harassment. There is also a Penal Code that protects you from physical forms of sexual harassment. You can go to any Police Station and file a report that includes all the details and evidence such as where, when, how, and who. Later, a follow up of the case investigation will be done by the police and by the court. Transfer to A New Workplace Yes, this should be done to keep you safe from the environment and most importantly the assaulter. You may change your workplace and block any contacts that you have in relation to it. It is important to make sure that you are in a secure surrounding and trustworthy people. Talk to Someone This is one of the most important things that you do after a sexual assault. I understand the trauma that you are in and you don't feel safe. However, you must at least talk to someone that you really trust so that you know that you are not alone in this situation. If you feel that you need to talk to a professional, you can seek a psychiatrist in any government hospital or private. Here is a video on how we can end sexual harassment at work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?vqWNae7vYK6s You Are Not Alone Battling in this horrifying and traumatizing situation may lead to depression, post-traumatic stress syndrome and many others. You may go through triggering moments in your daily life but trust me, you are never alone. I know it is not easy for anyone to be in these circumstances but take your time to heal. I hope you will always remember that IT IS NEVER YOUR FAULT. Photo Credit: Pinterest If you’re looking for help, here are some organization that can help you: Women’s Aid Organisation (Pertubuhan Pertolongan Wanita) WAO Hotline at +603 7956 3488 or SMS/WhatsApp TINA at +6018 988 8058. AWAM - All Women’s Action Society Telenita Helpline 016-2374221 or awam@awam.org.my For more information, click here to read more about what you can do if you encounter sexual harassment at work.

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