The topic of sexism has been in the limelight for a while now, thanks to Emma Watson’s #HeForShe campaign, which has helped galvanize all genders into a strong force aiming towards equality.
However, closer to home, sexism still continues to be an all-pervading factor of work-life, as women deal with bosses who cannot keep their hands to themselves, and colleagues who are more than willing to denigrate and castigate them, often in subtle and insidious ways. The recent allegations against TVF’s Arunabh Kumar showcased how the rot prevails; even in seemingly progressive and modern organizations.
Almost 50% of the women in India feel they face workplace harassment is the biggest obstacle they face in their professional lives.
From patronising remarks, to sexual ‘banter’ and ‘jokes’, from being given supposedly delicate tasks and being kept away from the hard decisions – or having every big decision of theirs questioned, to facing actual physical harassment and unwanted sexual advances, these are just some of the issues women face at work. They just form the tip of the iceberg. Sometimes, they can take the form of an over-demanding boss who wants you to work late hours while questioning every one of your personal choices, or questioning your life choices of choosing anything else over work, just to make you feel bad. What’s worse is there aren’t enough balances and checks in place to combat this kind of behaviour. The law has many loopholes. And hey, you are lucky if you are working in a huge organization where the HR has powers to keep such aggressors in check, but what if you are working for a firm or agency where the boss is the owner, one who has the ultimate say on all things? A bad situation to be in, isn’t it?
However, keeping quiet is not the solution. Suffering in silence is not the solution. It will not change anything. On the contrary, it will only give the aggressors more power, and make them continue doing the same thing, both, against you, and against others in the future. So, do not let them muffle your voice. Take a stand. Make your voice be heard. Speak out against sexism at work. Stand for your fellow women, so that they do not feel alone. Let those different voices come together as one and speak out in unison. Change the world, together.
Start at your workplaces. Band together with others, and next time someone behaves in a patronizing manner, make them feel bad about it. If they use subtle means to control you, flip it and use their own words to make them feel bad and question their behaviour. Ask them whether they are saying certain things to you only because you are a woman. If you are told to do a certain task which is not in line with your official duties and you are uncomfortable with it, then say no. Be firm. Do not be coerced into it.
If nothing helps, turn to the HR. If that doesn’t work, turn to social media, speak out against the perpetrator.
Do not be quiet. Do not be suppressed. Let your voices be heard.
