The Weeks case is by no means an isolated
incident. Another recent lawsuit involved a national (U.S.) chain of discount
stores. An employee named Peggy Kimzey claimed that her supervisor had made
numerous crude sexual remarks to her. In 1993, Peggy Kimzey resigned from her
job and sued. She was awarded $35,000 for humiliation and mental anguish along
with a symbolic $1 in lost wages. The jury also decided that her former employer
had created a hostile work environment by tolerating the harassment. The
punishment? Fifty million dollars in damages!
While staggering jury awards capture headlines,
the truth is that few cases ever find their way into a courtroom. Most victims
suffer their humiliation in silence—pawns in an ugly game of power and
intimidation that is played out in offices, on streets, in buses, at lunch
counters, and in factories. At times, there is outright coercion to have
intimate relations. Most of the time, though, the molestation consists of
subtler, yet shamelessly offensive, acts: unwelcome or inappropriate touches,
lewd remarks, lascivious stares.
CANADA: "One survey showed that 4 out of 10 women
reported being sexually harassed at work."
JAPAN: "An August 1991 survey showed that 70
percent of the women who responded experienced" harassment at work. "Ninety
percent said they were sexually harassed on the way to and from work."
AUSTRIA: "A 1986 survey showed almost 31 percent
of women reported serious harassment incidents."
FRANCE: "In 1991 a study . . . found that 21
percent of the 1,300 women surveyed said they had personally experienced sexual
harassment."
THE NETHERLANDS: A study showed that "58 percent
of the women responding [to the survey] said they had personally experienced
sexual harassment."
The Bible View
A Sign of the Times
Of course, molestation and harassment in the
workplace are nothing new. Women—and sometimes men—were subject to such
mistreatment even back in Bible times. (Genesis 39:7, 8; Ruth 2:8, 9, 15)
But such misbehavior seems to be particularly prevalent today. Why so?
For one thing, in recent years women have
entered the job market in record numbers. More women are therefore exposed
to situations in which such abuses can occur. However, of even greater
significance is what the Bible prophesied long ago: "Remember this! There
will be difficult times in the last days. Men will be selfish, greedy,
boastful, and conceited; they will be insulting . . . ; they will be unkind,
merciless, slanderers, violent, and fierce." (2 Timothy 3:1-3, Today's
English Version) The prevalence of sexual harassment is just one
dramatic proof that these words are being fulfilled today. Interestingly, an
article in Men's Health magazine notes that "the increase in
sexual-harassment complaints has been accompanied by an astonishing decline
in general civility. Bad manners are everywhere."
The prevalence of sexual harassment also
reflects the "new morality," which swept the world during the 1960's. The
tearing down of traditional moral boundaries has been accompanied by a
shocking disregard for the rights and feelings of others. Whatever its
cause, sexual harassment is a grim reality of the workplace. What can men
and women do to protect themselves? Will there ever be a time when the
workplace will be free of harassment?
Preventing Harassment
How can one try to avoid becoming a victim of harassment? The advice
Jesus gave his disciples when he sent them out on their first preaching
assignment could, perhaps, be applied in this context: "Look! I am sending
you forth as sheep amidst wolves; therefore prove yourselves cautious as
serpents and yet innocent as doves." (Matthew 10:16) At any rate, a
Christian is not helpless. The Bible assures us: "When wisdom enters into
your heart . . . , thinking ability itself will keep guard over
you, discernment itself will safeguard you." (Proverbs 2:10, 11) Let's,
therefore, look at some Bible principles that can help you safeguard
yourself.
"Would you want your mother, sister,
or daughter exposed to that?"
1. Watch how you conduct yourself with
workmates. This does not mean being cold or hostile, for the Bible urges
us to "pursue peace with all people." (Hebrews 12:14; Romans 12:18) But
since the Bible does caution Christians to "go on walking in wisdom toward
those on the outside," it makes sense to maintain a businesslike
demeanor, especially when dealing with the opposite sex. (Colossians
4:5) The book Talking Back to Sexual Pressure, by Elizabeth Powell,
urges workers "to learn a precise line between a pleasant attitude
appropriate to their role and the kind of friendliness that could
imply sexual openness."
2. Dress modestly. What you wear sends
out a message to others. Back in Bible times, wearing certain styles of
clothing branded a person as being immoral or promiscuous. (Proverbs 7:10)
The same is often true today; tight, flashy, or revealing clothing can
attract the wrong kind of attention. True, some may feel they have a right
to wear whatever they desire. But as writer Elizabeth Powell puts it, "if
you worked among people who believed stealing money was okay, I'd tell you
not to wear your billfold on your hip. . . . You have to
recognize the sickness of . . . society's attitudes and try to protect
yourself from being victimized by them." The Bible's advice is thus
up-to-date. It admonishes women to "adorn themselves in well-arranged dress,
with modesty and soundness of mind." (1 Timothy 2:9) Dress modestly, and you
may be less likely to be a target of abusive speech or actions.
3. Watch your associations! The Bible
tells us of a young woman named Dinah who became the victim of sexual
assault. She evidently attracted the attention of her assailant because she
regularly "used to go out to see the daughters of the land" of Canaan—women
known for being promiscuous! (Genesis 34:1, 2) Similarly today, if you
regularly chat with—or listen to—coworkers who are known for discussing
prurient subjects, some might conclude that you would be receptive to sexual
advances.
This does not mean you have to snub your
workmates. But if the conversation becomes risqué, why not simply excuse
yourself? Interestingly, many of Jehovah's Witnesses have found that having
a reputation for high moral standards serves to protect them from
harassment.—1 Peter 2:12.
4. Avoid compromising situations. The
Bible tells how a young man named Amnon schemed to be alone with a young
woman named Tamar so that he could take advantage of her sexually. (2 Samuel
13:1-14) Harassers today may behave similarly, perhaps inviting a
subordinate to share an alcoholic drink or to remain at work after hours for
no apparent reason. Beware of such invitations! Says the Bible: "Shrewd is
the one that has seen the calamity and proceeds to conceal
himself."—Proverbs 22:3.
If You Are Harassed
Of course, some men will make improper
advances even when a woman conducts herself impeccably. How should you
respond to such advances if you are targeted? Some have recommended simply
taking the whole thing in stride! 'Office sex is the spice of life!' says
one woman. However, far from viewing such inappropriate attention as
humorous or flattering, true Christians are repulsed by it. They "abhor what
is wicked" and realize that the intent of such advances is usually to lure
one into sexual immorality. (Romans 12:9; compare 2 Timothy 3:6.) At the
very least, the crude behavior is an affront to their Christian dignity.
(Compare 1 Thessalonians 4:7, 8.) How can you handle such situations?
1. Take a stand! The Bible tells us
how a God-fearing man named Joseph responded to immoral propositions: "Now
after these things it came about that the wife of his master began to raise
her eyes toward Joseph and say: 'Lie down with me.'" Did Joseph simply
ignore her overtures, hoping that the problem would go away by itself? On
the contrary! The Bible says that he boldly refused her advances, saying:
"How could I commit this great badness and actually sin against
God?"—Genesis 39:7-9.
Joseph's actions set a good example for both
men and women. Ignoring—or worse yet, being intimidated by—suggestive speech
or aggressive behavior rarely makes it go away; if anything, fear or
diffidence may cause it to escalate! Rape prevention counselor Martha
Langelan cautions that rapists often use sexual harassment as a "way to
gauge the likelihood that a woman will fight back in an assault; if she is
passive and timid when harassed, they assume she will be passive and
terrified when attacked." It is therefore critical that you take a stand at
the first sign of harassment. According to one writer, "saying no
immediately and clearly is often enough to make the harasser stop the
offensive behavior."
2. Let your no mean no! Jesus said
that in his Sermon on the Mount. (Matthew 5:37) His statement is appropriate
for these circumstances, since harassers are often quite persistent. Just
how firm do you need to be? That depends on the circumstances and the
response of the harasser. Use whatever degree of firmness is necessary to
get your point across. In some cases, a simple, direct statement in a calm
tone of voice will suffice. Make eye contact. Experts suggest the following:
(a) State your feelings. ("I do not like it at all when you . . .")
(b) Specifically name the offensive behavior. (". . . when you
use crude, vulgar language . . .") (c) Make clear what you want
the person to do. ("I want you to stop speaking to me that way!")
"In no case, however," Langelan cautions,
"does a confrontation step over the line into aggression. Counteraggression
(using insults, threats, and verbal abuse, throwing a punch, spitting on a
harasser) is counterproductive. Verbal violence is dangerous, and there is
no need to use physical violence unless there is an actual physical attack
that requires self-defense." Such practical advice accords with the Bible's
words at Romans 12:17: "Return evil for evil to no one."
What if the harassment continues in spite of
your best efforts to stop it? Some companies have set procedures for dealing
with sexual harassment. Often the mere threat of initiating a company
grievance procedure will make your harasser leave you alone. Then again, it
may not. Sad to say, finding a sympathetic supervisor is not always an easy
task for either women or men. Glen, who says he was harassed by a female
employee, tried complaining. He recalls: "When I told the boss about it, I
got no help at all. In fact, he thought it was hilarious. I just had to
watch out for the woman and go out of my way to avoid her."
Some have tried legal action. But the huge
judgments in lawsuits you read about in the media are hardly typical.
Besides, the book Talking Back to Sexual Pressure warns: "Legal
remedies against harassment require tremendous emotional energy and time;
they result in physical as well as mental stress." With good reason the
Bible cautions: "Do not go forth to conduct a legal case hastily." (Proverbs
25:8) After counting the emotional and spiritual costs of legal action, some
have preferred to seek other employment
* Statistics tend to vary, since researchers use different survey
methods and different definitions of sexual harassment.
Reprint if part of article found at
http://watchtower.org/e/19960522/article_01.htm