Friday January 18, 2008
Sexual harassment is not OK
I’M WRITING about my own experience of sexual harassment in my university. Sexual harassment is not OK! I urge young women who have been sexually harassed in their place of study to speak up.
Last year, I was sexually harassed when a first-year student in my university unzipped my dress on stage in front of an audience of 850 during the university ball as a ‘joke’.
I was extremely embarrassed by it and thought it best not to take action, as I was afraid of being told that I had brought it upon myself in some way.
However, I was strongly encouraged by my aunt to make a police report, which I did. Unfortunately, there has not been any follow-up since.
The university was displeased with my action and cajoled me to withdraw my report as the perpetrator was described as ‘a high-spirited young man’ who had his ‘entire future ahead of him’.
As a young woman, do I also not have my entire future ahead of me? Was any thought given to how this incident might have disparaged my reputation or caused me emotional trauma?
I was basically told that my opinions do not matter and that what happened was OK because he ‘didn’t know any better’.
However, I managed to garner the support of the student council and we extracted a public apology from him.
Many of my fellow students expressed support, saying that sexual harassment in any way, shape or form should not be condoned.
The public apology was only the beginning; I am now pleased to announce that along with the campus solicitors, the university is setting up a discrimination and sexual harassment grievance procedure committee to handle such cases.
I urge other institutions of higher learning to follow its example and not to push aside the concerns of young women just because they are women. Sexual harassment is a violation of a person’s rights, and it is not a small matter.
MELODY SONG FAYE-LYNN,
Subang Jaya.
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