April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month—an annual campaign to spread awareness and educate people about this prevalent issue in order to prevent sexual violence. Another important issue within this category that is faced regularly is the problem of sexual harassment. According to a report released by The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) in 2016, somewhere between 87 and 94 percent of employees experiencing harassment do not file a formal complaint. Furthermore, most women will experience some form of sexual harassment at some point in life.
The movement towards change and equality for women has always been a slower one with moments when the motivation spikes. More recently this has been noticeable with the Women’s March, the #MeToo movement, and the many allegations being brought forth in politics, the arts, publishing, sports, and more. Women throughout many various industries have been speaking out more and more against those who sexually harass or assault others; this is especially becoming prevalent in Hollywood and other businesses that are often under the media’s spotlight. It has shown throughout the years that the more people come forward about their experiences, the more others are likely to do the same. The many gymnasts stepping forth to raise their voices in court this last year is one prime example.
Because so many women are afraid to share their experiences and speak out because of how they may be viewed or scrutinized by others, the only way to push for change is for people to band together and point out these instances of injustice. One of the difficulties with tackling the issue of sexual harassment, and what has made the journey to change so strenuous, is the fact that people tend to have different definitions of “sexual harassment.”
It is hard to discern where to begin to remedy this issue. I believe people should try to remedy the issue before a situation can even arise. Educating workers at the beginning of employment (and if necessary, periodically within the company) may be the most effective way of starting to change the way employees treat each other. Because this will not solve everything, it is also important to encourage people to speak out without having to fear being misunderstood or judged.