What is harassment?

Letter October 30, 2017
It is pertinent to understand that there is no set definition of the word harassment, it is a solely survivor’s call

ISLAMABAD: In the last three days Pakistani social media enthusiasts have been focusing on what does or does not constitute harassment after Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy took to Twitter to condemn a doctor’s advances. In a series of tweets, Sharmeen mentioned that after her sister was treated by a doctor at an ER of a well-reputed hospital in Karachi, she received a Facebook friend request by the said doctor. Sharmeen not only reported the incident to the hospital authorities but also called the incident a case of harassment.

It is pertinent to understand that there is no set definition of the word harassment as what constitutes harassment is a solely a survivor’s call. There is also a need to understand that abuse of power too — in this case the power lying with the doctor — constitutes harassment. The doctor used his power over the information provided to him for a clinical procedure to ‘stalk’ — which in itself constitutes harassment — a patient on Facebook and send her a request, or used her number, which again was solely given for medical records, to add her.

Unfortunately, uncalled-for advances by men have become a norm in our society so many see this particular incident as ‘harmless’. But when should we then be alarmed?

Nafisa Jabeen

Published in The Express Tribune, October 30th, 2017.

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