Instead of pressuring women into ‘being careful’, there is need for culprits to stop engaging in shameful activities
KARACHI: In a society driven by morals, ethics and cultural bounds, we don’t expect acts of harassment from respectable people. Yet these days, the trend of cyber-bullying and sexual harassments is common even amongst those who seem to be respectable people, many with legal, full-time jobs, who carry out these crimes under the cover of secrecy. When it comes to the workplace, every institution has a certain code of conduct for its workers and certain responsibilities towards its customers. Nevertheless, there are still activities that are carried out by ostensibly respected senior staffers, which stand out as morally repugnant. It is becoming increasingly difficult for women to thrive in such environments.
I have come across stories of girls who face harassment from men belonging to well-respected organisations. When such harassment attempts are ignored by women, these men get riled and personally go on to cause disturbances in the lives of the women who are their targets. This is not just an accusation, but a cry to the perpetrators to leave the victims alone. It is difficult for women to always be on their guard, to always be extra vigilant about where their numbers or contacts are being circulated. The responsibility of their safety needs to be shifted on to the other gender as well. Instead of pressuring women into ‘being careful’, there is a need to tell the culprits to stop engaging in shameful activities of harassment.
There are many such stories. While such claims are hard to prove, especially against respectable organisations, since such stories are basically allegations unless proven with evidence, the harassment of working women is a reality and cannot be denied. It is time to take action. Many women do not report prank callers or stalkers. This is damaging not only for them, but for other women too who might go on and become victims in the future. I hope this letter will prompt organisations to be extra vigilant about the activities of their staff in the future, and hold the culprits strictly accountable.
Zohra Taiyeb
Published in The Express Tribune, January 14th, 2015.
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