Workplace sexual harassment, as noted by Cecilia, Zanariah, and Maria (2003, P. 98), encompasses unwelcome sexual behavior that undermines individuals’ dignity. This behavior may take the form of verbal, non-verbal, or physical actions and is deemed unwanted by those on the receiving end. It is important to acknowledge that this problem extends beyond interactions among adults and can impact children and teenagers as well.
Sexual harassment has multiple causes and numerous consequences for the victim. These causes can be broadly categorized as either the victim’s own fault or deviant behavior. Consequently, the victim’s emotional and psychological state is impacted, along with their productivity in the workplace. A specific cause of sexual harassment occurs when blame is placed on the victim for their actions. As stated by Cecilia, Zanariah, and Maria (2003), one prevailing factor contributing to victim-blaming is their selection of provocative attire.
Even if women adhere to a company’s dress code, their clothing can still result in sexual harassment. Men tend to scrutinize seductively dressed women not for compliments but to make jokes and criticize them. These jokes and criticisms may extend beyond verbal actions and include non-verbal actions such as flirting by leering at a woman’s body (Male storekeeper, 2003 as cited in Cecilia, Zanariah and Maria, 2003).
Additionally, if all individuals adhere to the Muslim dress code, sexual harassment cases can be significantly reduced as appropriately dressed women will not face disturbance from males. Another contributing factor to sexual harassment is the deviant behavior of the perpetrators. These harassers are commonly perceived as deviant due to their actions or behaviors that violate social norms. Deviant behavior refers to actions that differ from what is considered normal and acceptable by most people (Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, 8th Edition).
According to company counseling program coordinators, individuals who engage in sexual harassment are perceived as informal and exhibit inappropriate behavior. They also share the belief that harassers suffer from mental illness. For example, those who are morally upright and adhere to their religious values would not partake in such misconduct. Even individuals who consume pornography inherently discourage such actions (Cecilia, Zanariah, and Mariah, 2003).
