Research Paper on Sexual Harassment

Purpose: To highlight the instances in which lack of curbing sexual harassments has caused to irreversible harm throughout the States.

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Claim: Inconsistent on sexual harassment regulation propagates an influx of unwanted sexual attention, gender harassment, bribes, a threat in the attempt to force acquiescence, disease infection to other person and sexual coercion usual results in pressure from seniors to Juniors at workstations.

Introduction

Sociologists have come out with arguments on the controversial issues surrounding sexual harassment. Where, harassment has been categorized into gender harassment that is the most experienced form of sexual harassment, unwanted sexual attention that is second after gender harassment, and concerns the making of sexual advances that are unwelcomed. The last category of harassment is the sexual coercion that usually comes as a result of pressure in the workplace, bribes or threats that is an attempt to force acceptance (Wagner, 1992). In the recent decades, because of the empowerment that women have been receiving, many of them have come out to give detailed experiences at their workplace. Thus, it is evident that very few institutions are at a position of avoiding the scandal concerning sexual harassment.

Statement of Background

According to the department of justice in the United States of America, sexual assault is any getting in to contact sexually without the consent of the involved party.

Preposition

There have been disagreements in the public domain on what is likely to make a sexual harassment. Some of the individuals have come with suggestions that not all sexual misconducts should be treated with the same magnitude. The different opinions concerning this matter is what makes it controversial in that part of the population believes in the law the way it has been set and the way it is supposed to be read and interpreted whereas another portion tends to argue on the basis of facts and circumstances that can be given a significant consideration when it comes to determining cases on sexual harassment. Therefore, it gives a gap the raises broad discussions on the matter that has been making it hard for the population to come into terms of what is to be termed as sexual harassment (Neenah and Keller, 2013 P. 22).

Historically, in the United States, sexual harassment was first tackled in 1964 with the Congress passing the civil rights act on the matter that was signed by the president then Lyndon Johnson. The act made sexual harassment illegal especially on issues that supported discrimination by race, color, religion sex as well as national originality. However, the courts had to define and create specific laws that could protect workers from sexual harassment, since then regulations have been developed on the matter to help the country achieve in doing away with such acts into society. Some of the statutes thereafter include the 2005 ruling made by the United States Supreme Court that is illegal to punish someone for reporting such cases of sexual harassment and any sort of discrimination, the act that was passed by the Congress in 1994 is also another avenue that can be used as an evidence that the country is in progress in fighting sexual harassment (Cochran and Augustus, 2004). The violence against women act has significantly helped in the reduction of such cases at different workplaces.

Proof

With the different development in legislation on this aspect, it is evident that the current cases on sexual harassment have reduced in number when compared to the past decades where most of the population was not aware on various acts concerning the matter. Therefore, with proper reinforcing of the law, the country is making a sign of progress that will not only bring to an end this harassment but also it has enabled the empowerment of women in the society that are now contributing significantly to the productivity of the nation. Also, it is also evident that the position of the country in handling such cases has been changing the general orientation on how people perceive this issue in the contemporary society. It has also encouraged many to freely and efficiently work comfortably in most workplaces despite the fact that some few cases are being reported (Smallbone et al., 2008). Sexual harassment is not socially acceptable across many cultures. It is the reason why most of the countries in various continents are fighting hard to do away with such. Because it tends to intimidate an individual who is involved making the uncomfortable and a sort of humiliation that leaves on emotionally and psychologically disturbed. Therefore, the performance of such distressed persons is likely to be below the average.

Refutation

In my reflection, it will be useful if the country continues to embrace the development of policies that govern different kinds of discrimination. My standpoint is that sexual harassment is not what the country is supposed to be handling at the moment. It should be done away with as soon as possible in the society. Therefore, I share the same school of thought with the nation in eliminating such behavior in the community. The lesson from different development is clear that humanity is not only made for a specific gender but it is meant for any living human being (Carlson, 2017). Thus, it is good to promote the elimination in creating a conducive atmosphere not only in the workplaces but also in the general society.

There is a significant risk that is likely to face that larger human population if the issues at hand are not well looked into. Then it will mean that the state has left its mandate of ensuring that it protects the rights of its citizen to the hands-on individuals. If the topic is not addressed, there will be an increase in the number of sexual harassment cases. Most individuals will have to suffer for they will have no help. It will seem to be a neglecting the individual who in my view will not themselves address the issue. Therefore the society will be doomed because women will not be fully involved in the developments as required. There will be few or no awareness on sexual harassments, something that will land individuals without this knowledge I trouble of not being able to report or being victims on this matter but dying with their unsolved problems. Working hand in hand with various agencies that have been developed to embrace the required spirit in the society will be the most efficient way of being fully involved in the solving of this problem (Powell, 2017).

Conclusion

Sexual harassment is a matter that has been a discussion for decades now. It remains a controversy because of the disagreements of various issues concerning the matter. However, in the current society case on sexual harassment are minimal due to the awareness being created on the effect of being involved in the same. Policies that have been developed with time tend to boost the process of finding a solution to this problem (Yagil, 2008 P. 148). Either it is because victims fear to report such issues or they are not aware of what is expected of them when such happens, or indeed people have decided to embrace the required change to do away with sexual harassment in the society.

Annotated Bibliography

Carlson, Gretchen. Be Fierce: Stop Harassment and Take Your Power Back. Hachette UK, 2017.

"The author is former Miss America, mother of two, and star news anchor stood up and spoke out, women all over the world joined the movement and began to take back their lives." Gretchen chose to advocate sexual harassment at the place of work for the voiceless. She advises the victim to stand up against and sexual intention, harassment at any point in life in careers and homes. Gretchen gives research to incidents to lawyers, doctors and physiologist who's conversation has gone global in encouraging the victims not to sit back but to be fierce and take the front seat in condemning the act and reporting them for possible persecution.

Cochran III, Augustus B. Sexual harassment and the law: The Mechelle Vinson case. University Press of Kansas, 2004. Internet resource .https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQSg8f6KinE

From this case which involved the author and her boss (supervisor) who forced her to have sex with her, she did not refuse since she wanted her job security. This involves Mechelle Vinson's lawsuit against her employer, Meritor Savings Bank v. Vinson (1986).In this suit, the Supreme Court adopted the legal theory and found that sexual harassment as the discriminatory act. The case was proved to have caused injuries to the petitioner and concluded that sexual harassment was the act of discrimination which was actionable even without caused economic injuries. Cochran gives inside analysis of women sexual harassment at workplace hence advocates for them not stay silence but see a legal address.

Powell, Anastasia, and Nicola Henry. Sexual Violence in a Digital Age. Springer, 2017.Internet resource.In this book, the authors found out that with the advance in the technology has changed society beliefs, norm, and behavior. The online acts like online porn, hate speech on one's race, color, job, social status, and sex gender. The evolution of technology has enhanced the sexual harassment right on devices we use, phones, TVs' iPods, Tabs, etc. From authors, the digital age is the source of sexual harassment and it up to firms and governments to put on measures and litigation to curb digital harassment.

Holtzman, Elizabeth, et al. "Judicial Proceedings Panel Report on Panel Concerns Regarding the Fair Administration of Military Justice in Sexual Assault Cases." (2017). Internet resource.

Sexual Harassment: Training for Supervisors & Employees. Neenah, WI: J.J. Keller & Associates, 2013.

From J .J Killer explains that sexual harassment at a workplace can cause employees low output, and low morale hence affecting organization output. Advocates for the organization to set time and resources to train their employees on possible sexual harassment. They found training employees on sexual harassment reduces cases of such acts in workplaces since the majority would be aware of its implication.

Smallbone, Stephen, William L. Marshall, and Richard Wortley. Preventing Child Sexual Abuse: Evidence, Policy, and Practice. Cullompton, Devon: Willan Publishing, 2008. Internet resource.

The three authors the find that sexual harassment has a negative impact on childhood development. The children have sexually abused above by parent, close relatives, neighbors', and teachers. The strongly suggest that children are supposed to be protected by the state, parent, and teacher from any act of sexual violence. They advocate for policy formulation and walk the talk on not sexually assault children. They advocate for evidence of children sexual assault.

Wagner, Ellen J. Sexual Harassment in the Workplace: How to Prevent, Investigate, and Resolve Problems in Your Organization. New York: AMACOM, 1992. Internet resource.

From the authors find that sexual harassment is rampant in the most workplace. The suggestion for the firm to set up measures to prevent them through awareness put the mechanism to investigate it. Organization to set up the committee that looks into this matters. Through this, the acts will reduce in many organizations.

Yagil, Dana. "When the customer is wrong: A review of research on aggression and sexual harassment in service encounters." Aggression and Violent Behavior 13.2 (2008): 141-152.

Yagil and Dana give insider where sexual harassment is practiced in the service industry where the customer suggests or act in sexual behavior to employees in service counter. They find this behavior from the custom as wrong act and recommend to the victim to resist such actions and motives from the customer.