Sexual Harassment
Is there a way that sexual harassment can be taken more seriously and make it easier for victims to come out with their stories?
I believe that sexual harassment happens more often than we would like to think it does because many people in our society look the other way when we hear that someone has been sexually harassed. As someone who has personally experienced this, the feeling of being ignored and shamed happens more often than most when the topic of sexual harassment comes about. People don’t realize the seriousness of these events and they make jokes about sexual harassment almost everyday without noticing if it can affect the people around them. These people who are minding their own business, listening to these conversations could have possibly been through this traumatic event and could feel shamed because of the jokes they hear or the words “Well, he/she shouldn’t have been drinking that night… Practically asking for it.” These people feel like they can’t come out with their stories, or call out for help, or even report it to authorities. Sexual harassment is very serious, in any way, shape, or form. It doesn’t matter what gender the victim was, or the harasser. No matter what form, whether it be groping, or talking sexually, if the person feels violated? It’s sexual harassment. Nothing can make it a lesser form of sexual harassment and people need to see this through. If not taken in a serious matter, more accounts of sexual harassment will take place, and none of it will be reported. People need to feel safe, they need to know there are people out there who will listen and be there for them. I believe that if more people can come out with their stories, report these events to authorities, and even just plain speak up, the number of sexual harassments will eventually decreased and quite significantly too.
