Sexual harassment in the workplace
Sexual harassment in the Hong Kong workplace
Introduction As sexual harassment is a serious problem in the Hong Kong workplaces, this essay will talk about the situation of sexual harassment and some of the negative effects this may have. At the end, we will also make some possible solutions to deal with the negative impact of it.
Definition Firstly, sexual harassment will be defined before describing the problem. According to Shrier (1996), sexual harassment is a type of sexual discrimination which means the unwelcome body contact or verbal communication in the workplace or academia.
In Hong Kong, the Equal Opportunities Commission has a legal definition of Sexual Harassment as well. Under the Sexual Discrimination Ordinance, “If a person who is sexual harasser, he/she makes unwelcome sexual advances or unacceptable request for sexual favors or makes other unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature. It may causes the persons who have been sexually harassed may feel offended, humiliated or intimidated. Also it is prohibited in all environments. ”
We may find that the above definitions are not clear. It is difficult to define the meaning of “unwelcome” and “unacceptable”. Furthermore, the definition is applied in all environments which are not specific. So it seems that lack of clear, concise, widely accepted definition of sexual harassment in the workplace.
Categories There are 2 categories of sexual harassment, which is sexual coercion and sexual annoyance. First, sexual coercion is sexual harassment that results in some direct consequences to the victim’s employment. For example, a staff may face the sexual harassment from his employer or superior. If the staff accedes to the superior’s sexual solicitation, job benefits will follow. Conversely, if the subordinate refuses, job benefits are denied.
Second, Sexual annoyance is sexually related behavior that is offensive or intimidating to the victim but no direct link to any job
Introduction As sexual harassment is a serious problem in the Hong Kong workplaces, this essay will talk about the situation of sexual harassment and some of the negative effects this may have. At the end, we will also make some possible solutions to deal with the negative impact of it.
Definition Firstly, sexual harassment will be defined before describing the problem. According to Shrier (1996), sexual harassment is a type of sexual discrimination which means the unwelcome body contact or verbal communication in the workplace or academia.
In Hong Kong, the Equal Opportunities Commission has a legal definition of Sexual Harassment as well. Under the Sexual Discrimination Ordinance, “If a person who is sexual harasser, he/she makes unwelcome sexual advances or unacceptable request for sexual favors or makes other unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature. It may causes the persons who have been sexually harassed may feel offended, humiliated or intimidated. Also it is prohibited in all environments. ”
We may find that the above definitions are not clear. It is difficult to define the meaning of “unwelcome” and “unacceptable”. Furthermore, the definition is applied in all environments which are not specific. So it seems that lack of clear, concise, widely accepted definition of sexual harassment in the workplace.
Categories There are 2 categories of sexual harassment, which is sexual coercion and sexual annoyance. First, sexual coercion is sexual harassment that results in some direct consequences to the victim’s employment. For example, a staff may face the sexual harassment from his employer or superior. If the staff accedes to the superior’s sexual solicitation, job benefits will follow. Conversely, if the subordinate refuses, job benefits are denied.
Second, Sexual annoyance is sexually related behavior that is offensive or intimidating to the victim but no direct link to any job