Myth vs Reality
There are many common perceptions about sexual harassment that are simply not true. Below are some examples of such myths or misconceptions, and how they line up against reality :
Myth: If a woman/girl dresses or behaves in a sexy way she is asking to be sexually harassed.
Reality: When a businessman gets robbed, we don’t blame him for being well-dressed; we blame the robber. Yet when a woman is sexually harassed, we blame her for the way she looks! There is NO excuse for harassment, regardless of how women look. In any case, even women who do NOT dress or behave in a “sexy” way get harassed! So how do you explain that? We all CAN control our sexual feelings and are entirely responsible for our own actions.
Myth: It’s a small matter and a bit of fun and flirting; anyway, women enjoy it even if they pretend not to!
Reality : Women who are harassed definitely don’t agree with this! Sexual harassment is not the same as flirting. Sexual harassment is about being disrespectful! If a person is interested in another person, they show it in a respectful way – not by sexually harassing the person.
Myth: Only young women get harassed.
Reality: Sexual harassment happens to all women at some time in their lives, regardless of age, physical appearance, or marital status. Sexual harassment is about abuse of power – those who feel and are more powerful, harass and intimidate those who are not. For example, an employee who often harasses will usually NOT harass his employer, no matter how she looks or is dressed, but would not be afraid to harass a fellow employee, especially if he knows no action will be taken.
Myth: Women should just ignore sexual harassment.
Reality: Many are forced to ignore it, but often feel very bad about it. In the workplace especially, research shows that if sexual harassment is ignored, 75% of the time, it continues or gets worse!
Information taken from pamphlet on “What is Sexual Harassment?” by the All Women’s Action Society (AWAM)