Sexual harassment is no joke

MISS X was at work when a male colleague gave her a wandering gaze and made a remark about her outfit and her body. She was offended but he just brushed it off as a joke.

Was it a joke? Something to be laughed off? No.

It is still sexual harassment even if it is just a verbal quip, which some may consider harmless or even funny. The awareness level in society is just too low.

Many still equate sexual harassment with physical assault or “bad touch”. But how does the law define sexual harassment?

“Sexual harassment” is any unwanted conduct of a sexual nature, in any form, whether verbal, non-verbal, visual, gestural or physical, directed at a person that is reasonably offensive or humiliating or is a threat to his well-being. That’s what the Anti-Sexual Harassment Act 2022 says.

Verbal harassment is quite common and often brushed off as a joke or a humorous conversation.

It can come in the form of inappropriate sexual comments about a person’s body, clothing or looks; cat-calling, innuendos, suggestive or lewd comments; or even asking personal questions about someone’s social or sex life.

The problem begins when we start normalising and trivialising such behaviour as jokes, sometimes even blaming the victim for being unable to see the comic element of it. There is nothing comical about sexual harassment.

Another common misconception is that sexual harassment happens only to women and the perpetrators are men.

Men can be victims of sexual harassment too, as can perpetrators. In fact, there are also instances where both perpetrators and victims are of the same sex.

Sexual harassment often goes unreported. Proving such harassment can be arduous, especially if it was verbal and there were no eyewitnesses. Victims also fear unwanted consequences if the perpetrators are authoritative figures or people they may face every day.

To make workplaces safer, it is important for human resource departments to constantly conduct awareness campaigns and talks and remind employees of what sexual misconduct is.

The same should be done at universities. And what of schools?

In 2021, the All Women’s Action Society (Awam) and safe space Instagram account Save The Schools MY (STS) survey, which analysed 1,045 testimonies of abuse in schools, found a total of 1,495 violations, which included period spot checks, sexual harassment, bullying and other violations.

The study, which came months after Ain Husniza Saiful Nizam’s rape joke allegation, found that sexual harassment alone accounted for 75% of the 1,495 violations. The top three forms of sexual harassment were verbal (36.9%), physical (35.2%) and gestural (13%).

And what is worse, the people in charge who should know better are the worst offenders.

“School figures of authority make up the largest or second largest group of perpetrators,” the study found.

The Reproductive and Social Health Education (PEERS) curriculum has been part of the education system for years, but its effectiveness and delivery have always been questioned.

The Form 5 Physical and Health Education (PJK) textbook touches on forms of sexual harassment, what should be done if such situations arise, and the consequences on the victim and perpetrator.

Again, it seems to be scratching the surface, offering solutions like: always be in an open place where there are other people around; scream when someone misbehaves; and avoid invitations for one-on-one meetings.

Children should be taught about sexual harassment and abuse as well as reproductive health in primary school, so they know how to stay safe.

It may be too late to educate them when they are teenagers. Some teens may not even know that they are being harassed or abused. There are even adults who do not know they are being harassed.

The most important thing, though, is for all teachers to be fully aware of what constitutes sexual harassment and be able to educate their students on practical ways of protecting themselves in real life.

Activist Jernell Tan Chia Ee says there is an “institutionalised lack of awareness” among students.

She also acknowledged that there have been challenges in delivering the PEERS curriculum.

Firstly, there is a lack of resources and class time.

“There is also a stigma associated with talking about sexual and reproductive health. Even teachers do not feel comfortable talking about it.”

And it’s not just teachers. Parents, too, have misconceptions about sexual and reproductive health, with some feeling it is not an appropriate subject to teach.

Sowing the seeds of awareness in young children will help protect them in the future. As for adults, we too have to be constantly reminded and made aware of sexual harassment.

Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek said last month that the ministry was looking into recommendations by a special committee to address sexual harassment and bullying in schools. Hopefully, something good comes out of this.

When the Anti-Sexual Harassment Act was passed last year, it was a momentous occasion. Now we are waiting for the tribunal to become functional.

What is important is to keep the conversations alive, because education is key.

It doesn’t matter if one is seven years old or 70; sexual abuse and harassment are still abuse. It is a sad reality, and there should be no place for it in society.