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It is time corporate India stops trivializing sexual harassment at work. Time for a paradigm shift in workplace policies. #WomenOnTheMove
Sexual harassment at work – is it a secret? Well, in the wake of the recent serious allegations of sexual harassment being leveled against some of the biggest corporate honchos of India Inc., sexual harassment at the workplace is not a secret anymore. In fact the number of incidents that are coming to light is telling of how deep-seated the menace is.
Although companies in India are legally required to have policies in place against sexual harassment at the workplace, it is disheartening to see that many still do not have clear-cut definitions for employees as to what falls under the purview of sexual harassment. Also, women who have been sexually harassed seldom file a complaint for fear of disbelief or the issue being trivialised or they being at a risk of losing their jobs; not to mention the lifelong stigma such a move could entail. Those who muster the courage to act often end up entangled in long-winding legal battles.
Last week, in our weekly #WomenOnTheMove chat over at Twitter, we discussed what type of actions fall under the purview of sexual harassment at work, the importance of creating a safe work environment for women and how prepared corporate India is in dealing with sexual harassment at work. This is what #WomenOnTheMove said.
It does not always have to be groping; even a crude joke or a suggestive remark that makes a woman uncomfortable, falls under the purview of sexual harassment at work.
@womensweb physcal contact sexually assaulted sexual favours showing pornography — Sayfty.com (@SayftyCom) May 3, 2017
@womensweb physcal contact sexually assaulted sexual favours showing pornography
— Sayfty.com (@SayftyCom) May 3, 2017
@womensweb A1.#Womenonthemove Physical verbal non verbal gestures conduct which is in soothing — HaltCyberViolence (@haltabuse) May 3, 2017
@womensweb A1.#Womenonthemove Physical verbal non verbal gestures conduct which is in soothing
— HaltCyberViolence (@haltabuse) May 3, 2017
A1 actions by way of words spoken, inappropriate gestures and physical touch which makes a woman uncomfortable #WomenOnTheMove https://t.co/dZRZO32unv — Akshata (@Awestruck_Aks) May 3, 2017
A1 actions by way of words spoken, inappropriate gestures and physical touch which makes a woman uncomfortable #WomenOnTheMove https://t.co/dZRZO32unv
— Akshata (@Awestruck_Aks) May 3, 2017
@womensweb Any action verbal or non verbal that invades privacy . — Shruti Basu (@shruti_s_basu) May 3, 2017
@womensweb Any action verbal or non verbal that invades privacy .
— Shruti Basu (@shruti_s_basu) May 3, 2017
@womensweb #WomenOntheMove She was stalked badly by the unknown lovy dovy mails in her inbox with fakename and got harrassed the boy had fun https://t.co/TehzjnhhvO — Sayfty.com (@SayftyCom) May 3, 2017
@womensweb #WomenOntheMove She was stalked badly by the unknown lovy dovy mails in her inbox with fakename and got harrassed the boy had fun https://t.co/TehzjnhhvO
@womensweb #WomenOntheMove Most of the call centres do not have very technical girls so many a times the boys catch up with their phones ! https://t.co/k5XdeIuRlS — HaltCyberViolence (@haltabuse) May 3, 2017
@womensweb #WomenOntheMove Most of the call centres do not have very technical girls so many a times the boys catch up with their phones ! https://t.co/k5XdeIuRlS
@womensweb The big thing Indian companies are missing is understanding of Sexual Harassment. The Org/ HR only look at compliance to POSH nothing else — Vidhi (@MissVidhi) May 3, 2017
@womensweb The big thing Indian companies are missing is understanding of Sexual Harassment. The Org/ HR only look at compliance to POSH nothing else
— Vidhi (@MissVidhi) May 3, 2017
@Rita_Banerji @SayftyCom @pointponder @ahgalsg @Mandy_Sanghera1 @Usriroy @TrishaBShetty @womensweb Absolutely, india tends to blur the concept of personal space and right over ones body . This itself needs to be addressed — Vidhi (@MissVidhi) May 3, 2017
@Rita_Banerji @SayftyCom @pointponder @ahgalsg @Mandy_Sanghera1 @Usriroy @TrishaBShetty @womensweb Absolutely, india tends to blur the concept of personal space and right over ones body . This itself needs to be addressed
@womensweb Trivialising it is the first response. — Vasudevan Srinivasan (@VaasuSrinivasan) May 3, 2017
@womensweb Trivialising it is the first response.
— Vasudevan Srinivasan (@VaasuSrinivasan) May 3, 2017
@womensweb #WomenOntheMove They are addressed 1Slut 2 Prostirutes 3 liar 4 want to extort money 5Extortion business they are intoThrow out https://t.co/kOvuzVLLch — Sayfty.com (@SayftyCom) May 3, 2017
@womensweb #WomenOntheMove They are addressed 1Slut 2 Prostirutes 3 liar 4 want to extort money 5Extortion business they are intoThrow out https://t.co/kOvuzVLLch
@Rita_Banerji @SayftyCom @pointponder @ahgalsg @Mandy_Sanghera1 @Usriroy @TrishaBShetty @womensweb Failing to understand that lack of proof doesn’t mean the case is false. In most situations the harassment takes place without eyewitness — Vidhi (@MissVidhi) May 3, 2017
@Rita_Banerji @SayftyCom @pointponder @ahgalsg @Mandy_Sanghera1 @Usriroy @TrishaBShetty @womensweb Failing to understand that lack of proof doesn’t mean the case is false. In most situations the harassment takes place without eyewitness
@MissVidhi @womensweb @Rita_Banerji @SayftyCom @pointponder @ahgalsg @Mandy_Sanghera1 @Usriroy @TrishaBShetty True I often see people talking about women blowing up things out of proportion, the misconception exists #WomenOnTheMove — Akshata (@Awestruck_Aks) May 3, 2017
@MissVidhi @womensweb @Rita_Banerji @SayftyCom @pointponder @ahgalsg @Mandy_Sanghera1 @Usriroy @TrishaBShetty True I often see people talking about women blowing up things out of proportion, the misconception exists #WomenOnTheMove
@MissVidhi @womensweb @Rita_Banerji @SayftyCom @pointponder @ahgalsg @Mandy_Sanghera1 @Usriroy @TrishaBShetty That’s key. As there can hardly be any eye witness or evidence, women are accused of building up a story #WomenOntheMove — Akshata (@Awestruck_Aks) May 3, 2017
@MissVidhi @womensweb @Rita_Banerji @SayftyCom @pointponder @ahgalsg @Mandy_Sanghera1 @Usriroy @TrishaBShetty That’s key. As there can hardly be any eye witness or evidence, women are accused of building up a story #WomenOntheMove
@womensweb Unequivocally NO! The onus to prove the crime is always on the woman which makes it hard post the offense to move on & bounce back — Monica Jasuja (@jasuja) May 3, 2017
@womensweb Unequivocally NO! The onus to prove the crime is always on the woman which makes it hard post the offense to move on & bounce back
— Monica Jasuja (@jasuja) May 3, 2017
@womensweb Shame & loose talk prevent women from reporting. Doesn’t help that understanding of SH is so poor, justice is even poorer. Sorry state — Monica Jasuja (@jasuja) May 3, 2017
@womensweb Shame & loose talk prevent women from reporting. Doesn’t help that understanding of SH is so poor, justice is even poorer. Sorry state
@womensweb Often seen 1The company delays the procedures 2 Then they say it’s between individuals 3They give past explanations of g8 friend https://t.co/hqrPg2q0LU — Sayfty.com (@SayftyCom) May 3, 2017
@womensweb Often seen 1The company delays the procedures 2 Then they say it’s between individuals 3They give past explanations of g8 friend https://t.co/hqrPg2q0LU
@womensweb no counselling straightaway denial do not wish to talented men They shooo the women hush them to be quiet give space to stalker https://t.co/hqrPg2q0LU — Sayfty.com (@SayftyCom) May 3, 2017
@womensweb no counselling straightaway denial do not wish to talented men They shooo the women hush them to be quiet give space to stalker https://t.co/hqrPg2q0LU
#WomenOntheMove Coz they excel in their acquired skills knowledge so they need to spread so #heforshe campaigns are for such places 1/2 https://t.co/Ch4AFp59kd — Sayfty.com (@SayftyCom) May 3, 2017
#WomenOntheMove Coz they excel in their acquired skills knowledge so they need to spread so #heforshe campaigns are for such places 1/2 https://t.co/Ch4AFp59kd
@womensweb Because they are more than half of the contributors at work ! — Vasudevan Srinivasan (@VaasuSrinivasan) May 3, 2017
@womensweb Because they are more than half of the contributors at work !
@womensweb It’s important to create a safe working environment irrespective of gender , cast or creed . Safe mentally n physically period !! — Shruti Basu (@shruti_s_basu) May 3, 2017
@womensweb It’s important to create a safe working environment irrespective of gender , cast or creed . Safe mentally n physically period !!
@womensweb Women will not be able to perform if the env is unsafe, moreover they will hide any harassment in fear of loosing job #WomenOnTheMove — Ushree (@Usriroy) May 3, 2017
@womensweb Women will not be able to perform if the env is unsafe, moreover they will hide any harassment in fear of loosing job #WomenOnTheMove
— Ushree (@Usriroy) May 3, 2017
@womensweb A4: #WomenOnTheMove..so that women can work without fear, achieve their goals without any “trauma”.. — RitwikaM (@RitwikaM) May 3, 2017
@womensweb A4: #WomenOnTheMove..so that women can work without fear, achieve their goals without any “trauma”..
— RitwikaM (@RitwikaM) May 3, 2017
A4 so that you don’t lose out on the growing population of women and the talent pool. #WomenOnTheMove https://t.co/PH2oRBaQd1 — Akshata (@Awestruck_Aks) May 3, 2017
A4 so that you don’t lose out on the growing population of women and the talent pool. #WomenOnTheMove https://t.co/PH2oRBaQd1
Women are slogging to bring up their families mist of them being single are running if they are harrassed how will they work.Need to save. https://t.co/1Gv0qe3kPq — HaltCyberViolence (@HaltCyberVAW) May 3, 2017
Women are slogging to bring up their families mist of them being single are running if they are harrassed how will they work.Need to save. https://t.co/1Gv0qe3kPq
— HaltCyberViolence (@HaltCyberVAW) May 3, 2017
@womensweb Because we need to let men and women work without fear — KetchupMoms (@ketchupmoms) May 3, 2017
@womensweb Because we need to let men and women work without fear
— KetchupMoms (@ketchupmoms) May 3, 2017
@womensweb because unsafe workplaces are unhealthy workplaces. Because safety is a fundamental human right & bcos dignity of labour is real. — Suhasini Rao (@ChotaRaoSahab) May 3, 2017
@womensweb because unsafe workplaces are unhealthy workplaces. Because safety is a fundamental human right & bcos dignity of labour is real.
— Suhasini Rao (@ChotaRaoSahab) May 3, 2017
@womensweb #WomenOnTheMove organisations must eradicate the association of shame and ego with sexual harassment and not try to stifle the complaints — Pooja Priyamvada (@IAmSufiZen) May 3, 2017
@womensweb #WomenOnTheMove organisations must eradicate the association of shame and ego with sexual harassment and not try to stifle the complaints
— Pooja Priyamvada (@IAmSufiZen) May 3, 2017
@womensweb Listen a lot and talk even more about it !! No such thing as over communication is there ? — Shruti Basu (@shruti_s_basu) May 3, 2017
@womensweb Listen a lot and talk even more about it !! No such thing as over communication is there ?
@womensweb Create awareness and clarify the grey areas . Educate men n women equally and at regular intervals — Shruti Basu (@shruti_s_basu) May 3, 2017
@womensweb Create awareness and clarify the grey areas . Educate men n women equally and at regular intervals
@womensweb For starters, The ICC must be populated with matured, independent thinking members, who don’t tow the organisational line — Vasudevan Srinivasan (@VaasuSrinivasan) May 3, 2017
@womensweb For starters, The ICC must be populated with matured, independent thinking members, who don’t tow the organisational line
@haltabuse @womensweb @womenonthemove Organisations need to train these members, most of the members are clueless, (No fault of theirs) on how to conduct an inquiry — Vasudevan Srinivasan (@VaasuSrinivasan) May 3, 2017
@haltabuse @womensweb @womenonthemove Organisations need to train these members, most of the members are clueless, (No fault of theirs) on how to conduct an inquiry
@womensweb Unfortunately, I find that many companies, especially small to mid sized companies do not have HR policies and procedures to address this — Sutapa Sanyal (@SutapaSanyal) May 3, 2017
@womensweb Unfortunately, I find that many companies, especially small to mid sized companies do not have HR policies and procedures to address this
— Sutapa Sanyal (@SutapaSanyal) May 3, 2017
@womensweb They can definitely safe guard against it by being more proactive , conscious and creating several forums to encourage open conversations. — Shruti Basu (@shruti_s_basu) May 3, 2017
@womensweb They can definitely safe guard against it by being more proactive , conscious and creating several forums to encourage open conversations.
@womensweb @WomenOntheMove NGOs can be involved to address the issues the committees are Henpecked employeeswho save reputations as Seedfund https://t.co/7rCEETYa95 — HaltCyberViolence (@HaltCyberVAW) May 3, 2017
@womensweb @WomenOntheMove NGOs can be involved to address the issues the committees are Henpecked employeeswho save reputations as Seedfund https://t.co/7rCEETYa95
Lack of evidence and no strong decision from in-house committees do not punish the victim instead accused is asked to leave till courts 1/2 https://t.co/7rCEETYa95 — HaltCyberViolence (@HaltCyberVAW) May 3, 2017
Lack of evidence and no strong decision from in-house committees do not punish the victim instead accused is asked to leave till courts 1/2 https://t.co/7rCEETYa95
@womensweb Nor do they plan out women safety measures in advance. Once an incident happens, only then do they start programs in an ad-hoc manner. — Sutapa Sanyal (@SutapaSanyal) May 3, 2017
@womensweb Nor do they plan out women safety measures in advance. Once an incident happens, only then do they start programs in an ad-hoc manner.
@womensweb We need greater transparency. Companies must publicly disclose who is on their committee, so that there is accountability #WomenOnTheMove — Sutapa Sanyal (@SutapaSanyal) May 3, 2017
@womensweb We need greater transparency. Companies must publicly disclose who is on their committee, so that there is accountability #WomenOnTheMove
@womensweb Govt/ NGOs should do public surveys & question pvt cos. about sexual harassment review committees, to ensure compliance #WomenOnTheMove — Sutapa Sanyal (@SutapaSanyal) May 3, 2017
@womensweb Govt/ NGOs should do public surveys & question pvt cos. about sexual harassment review committees, to ensure compliance #WomenOnTheMove
@womensweb We in the police need to send a very clear message to all workplaces that they need to step up. Police must take such cases very seriously — Sutapa Sanyal (@SutapaSanyal) May 3, 2017
@womensweb We in the police need to send a very clear message to all workplaces that they need to step up. Police must take such cases very seriously
@womensweb Yes…myself, and that too in govt sector and the person got promoted above me and right now heading sexual harassment division of Bengal 🙂 — Ushree (@Usriroy) May 3, 2017
@womensweb Yes…myself, and that too in govt sector and the person got promoted above me and right now heading sexual harassment division of Bengal 🙂
Image: Pixabay
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UP Boards Topper Prachi Nigam was trolled on social media for her facial hair; our obsession with appearance is harsh on young minds.
Prachi Nigam’s photo has been doing the rounds on social media for the right reasons. Well, scratch that- I wish the above statement were true. This 15-year-old girl should ideally be revelling in her spectacular achievement of scoring a whopping 98.05% and topping her tenth-grade boards. But oddly enough, along with her marks, it’s something else that garners more attention – her facial hair.
While the trolls are driving themselves giddy by mocking this girl who hasn’t even completed her school yet, the ones who are taking her side are going one step ahead – they are sharing her photoshopped pictures, sans the facial hair, looking nothing less than a celebrity with captions saying – “Prachi Nigam, ten years later”.
Doctors have already diagnosed her with PCOD in their comments, based on photographic evidence. While we have names for people shamed for their weight – body shaming, for their skin colour- racism, for their age- age shaming, for being a female- sexism, this category of shaming where one faces criticism for their appearance has no name. With that, it also has zero shame attached to it.
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