বাংলায় পড়ুন
“What is your input to the work… you only know how to gossip as girls”
Nikita Burman’s experience with casual sexism in her food-tech industry is a quotidian example of the way women in general are treated in their workplace. Harassment towards women in office is not just sexual in nature - it varies in intensity but has the same impact mentally. “Just because I’m a woman, my team leader thought I could not handle statistical work, and would constantly jeer at me in front of everyone” , Nikita added about her former workplace.
According to a 2017 BBC Survey on sexual harassment in workplace; among the women who said they had been harassed, 63% said they didn't report it to anyone. In most cases, the inappropriate behavior is conducted on a ‘light note’ and women feel it does not qualify the barometer of raising a complaint. For example, in a Bangalore based private company, a girl recorded that her (not so friendly) colleague purposely obstructed her way to her cubicle, and often sang songs like - “aisa mauka kaise milega…”(roughly translates to-how will I get this opportunity again) which made her feel uncomfortable. Upon confrontation, he laughed it off and said, “Can you not take a joke. Please, chill.”
“It’s become common for me to hear things like - Why are you in litigation…it’s a very hard profession for women to be in”, a Delhi - based advocate said off the record. “A lot of people have discouraged me from taking high-profile cases which require late-night work only on the grounds of my gender”, she added.
In a candid and confidential conversation with a practicing lawyer at one of the top legal firms of Mumbai, she admitted that one of her firm partners made a sexual advance twice, at office and in a party. “I did not complain in both the cases because he’s a jerk, and I did not want to complicate matters at office.”
In the legal fraternity, the institutional framework is not conducive for women to prosper.
Moreover, in such male dominated professions, women have to often adopt the language of men in order to ‘fit in’. “We need to talk like guys, and even judge other women or rate their bodies so that we don’t feel left out of the conversation.”
Harassment against women in the workplace includes:
- Sexual comments or jokes - in person or via email/text
- Inappropriate non consensual touching, such as pinching, patting or hugging
- Name calling or downplaying work because of gender
- Staring in a sexually suggestive manner or wolf whistling
- Displaying images of a sexual nature, singing suggestive songs
- Being treated less favorably as a result of rejecting any such conduct
What is the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act 2013?
The Act seeks to protect women from sexual harassment at their place of work. According to the Press Information Bureau of the Government of India: The Act ensures that women are protected against sexual harassment at all the work places, be it in public or private. This will contribute to realization of their right to gender equality, life and liberty and equality in working conditions everywhere. The sense of security at the workplace will improve women's participation in work, resulting in their economic empowerment and inclusive growth.
To help matters, the Ministry of Women and Child Development introduced a Handbook on Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act 2013, to “ensure that the emphasis is on prevention rather than punitive action.” 
Pictorial representation of The Complaint Process
Source: Handbook on Prevention of Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace
Reasons for not reporting:
Most women fear reporting assaults because the person who assaults them is on a rung above them on the ladder of power and hierarchy.
BBC Survey on Workplace Sexual Harassment reported that the reasons given for not reporting the harassment included embarrassment (20%); fear they would not be taken seriously (24%), or that it would affect their relationships at work (28%).
The prevailing mindset requires a definite change because the act of harassment is not seen as derogatory while recognizing it is!
