Sexual Harassment and Coping Strategies among Malay Female Administrative and Diplomatic Officers
With forecasted participation rate of 45.8 per cent in 2005, Malaysian women have contributed significantly to the development of the Nation. Thus, their well-being and basic human rights to have a safe and conducive workplace should be assured: including from sexual harassment. Sexual harassmen...
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my-upm-ir.73742013-05-27T07:34:58Z Sexual Harassment and Coping Strategies among Malay Female Administrative and Diplomatic Officers 2006-03 Ahmad, Noor Azima With forecasted participation rate of 45.8 per cent in 2005, Malaysian women have contributed significantly to the development of the Nation. Thus, their well-being and basic human rights to have a safe and conducive workplace should be assured: including from sexual harassment. Sexual harassment is noted by the United Nations as a form of discrimination and violence against women in various conventions that Malaysia has acceded to; primarily the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). Literature on sexual harassment suggests that one in two women would experience some forms of sexually harassing behaviour during her working life. This is a qualitative research involving 16 female respondents working in the public sector. Observation is mainly drawn from interviews with the respondents. In the interest of triangulation, informal interviews with their friends and colleagues were also conducted. Besides that, key informants also provided required background information. It is a study of power relations between the harassers and the victims at public workplaces. The research examines the incidences and reactions to sexual harassment and the types of coping strategies employed by the respondents who are in the subordinate positions in the organizational structure. The central argument is that the issue of power and powerlessness is embedded in the work culture which oppresses women's rights to have a safe and conducive working environment. The study also seeks to examine the factors influencing the types of coping strategies used by the respondents. Findings revealed that no one reported a one-time harassment. Instead, all the respondents faced numerous types of harassment for a considerable length of time. As for types of coping, a number of coping strategies were simultaneously used by the respondents as they saw fit and most effective at that particular time. Some coping patterns emerged. While there are some respondents who were empowered enough to stand for their rights, most preferred to keep quiet as to avoid further complications and repercussions at the workplace. This supports previous studies that women tend not to seek advocacy intervention. Only in severe harassment cases that they did so. Respondents in this study avoided advocacy-seeking since previous cases reported to higher authority yielded no favourable response. There are some exceptional cases where respondents went along with the harassers due to several factors, including childhood upbringing and family background. The main factors influencing their decision on coping strategies were power differential, socialization and background, severity, personal empowerment and personality, and office environment. The study concludes that sexual harassment is an intricate form of sexual violence and is mostly all about men in power and un-empowered women. To minimize incidences of sexual harassment at public workplaces, people need to have basic respect to others as found in the tenets of all religion. Besides that, more gender sensitivity courses should be conducted, with massive awareness campaign on the Sexual Harassment Guideline introduced by the PSD in August 2005. Only then, more harmonious and safer working environment could be achieved in the public sector. Sexual harassment of women 2006-03 Thesis http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/7374/ http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/7374/1/FEM_2006_7a.pdf application/pdf en public masters Universiti Putra Malaysia Sexual harassment of women Faculty of Human Ecology English |
| institution |
Universiti Putra Malaysia |
| collection |
PSAS Institutional Repository |
| language |
English English |
| topic |
Sexual harassment of women |
| spellingShingle |
Sexual harassment of women Ahmad, Noor Azima Sexual Harassment and Coping Strategies among Malay Female Administrative and Diplomatic Officers |
| description |
With forecasted participation rate of 45.8 per cent in 2005, Malaysian
women have contributed significantly to the development of the Nation.
Thus, their well-being and basic human rights to have a safe and
conducive workplace should be assured: including from sexual
harassment. Sexual harassment is noted by the United Nations as a form
of discrimination and violence against women in various conventions that
Malaysia has acceded to; primarily the Convention on the Elimination of
All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). Literature on
sexual harassment suggests that one in two women would experience
some forms of sexually harassing behaviour during her working life. This is a qualitative research involving 16 female respondents working in
the public sector. Observation is mainly drawn from interviews with the
respondents. In the interest of triangulation, informal interviews with their
friends and colleagues were also conducted. Besides that, key informants
also provided required background information. It is a study of power
relations between the harassers and the victims at public workplaces. The
research examines the incidences and reactions to sexual harassment
and the types of coping strategies employed by the respondents who are
in the subordinate positions in the organizational structure. The central
argument is that the issue of power and powerlessness is embedded in
the work culture which oppresses women's rights to have a safe and
conducive working environment. The study also seeks to examine the
factors influencing the types of coping strategies used by the respondents.
Findings revealed that no one reported a one-time harassment. Instead,
all the respondents faced numerous types of harassment for a
considerable length of time. As for types of coping, a number of coping
strategies were simultaneously used by the respondents as they saw fit
and most effective at that particular time. Some coping patterns emerged.
While there are some respondents who were empowered enough to stand
for their rights, most preferred to keep quiet as to avoid further
complications and repercussions at the workplace. This supports previous studies that women tend not to seek advocacy intervention. Only in
severe harassment cases that they did so. Respondents in this study
avoided advocacy-seeking since previous cases reported to higher
authority yielded no favourable response. There are some exceptional
cases where respondents went along with the harassers due to several
factors, including childhood upbringing and family background. The main
factors influencing their decision on coping strategies were power
differential, socialization and background, severity, personal
empowerment and personality, and office environment.
The study concludes that sexual harassment is an intricate form of sexual
violence and is mostly all about men in power and un-empowered women.
To minimize incidences of sexual harassment at public workplaces,
people need to have basic respect to others as found in the tenets of all
religion. Besides that, more gender sensitivity courses should be
conducted, with massive awareness campaign on the Sexual Harassment
Guideline introduced by the PSD in August 2005. Only then, more
harmonious and safer working environment could be achieved in the
public sector. |
| format |
Thesis |
| qualification_level |
Master's degree |
| author |
Ahmad, Noor Azima |
| author_facet |
Ahmad, Noor Azima |
| author_sort |
Ahmad, Noor Azima |
| title |
Sexual Harassment and Coping Strategies among Malay Female Administrative and Diplomatic Officers |
| title_short |
Sexual Harassment and Coping Strategies among Malay Female Administrative and Diplomatic Officers |
| title_full |
Sexual Harassment and Coping Strategies among Malay Female Administrative and Diplomatic Officers |
| title_fullStr |
Sexual Harassment and Coping Strategies among Malay Female Administrative and Diplomatic Officers |
| title_full_unstemmed |
Sexual Harassment and Coping Strategies among Malay Female Administrative and Diplomatic Officers |
| title_sort |
sexual harassment and coping strategies among malay female administrative and diplomatic officers |
| granting_institution |
Universiti Putra Malaysia |
| granting_department |
Faculty of Human Ecology |
| publishDate |
2006 |
| url |
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/7374/1/FEM_2006_7a.pdf |
| _version_ |
1747810694464536576 |