Assignment no 2

Subject: professional practice

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Question 1
What do you mean by harassment?

Answer
The act of systematic and/or continued unwanted and annoying actions of one party or a group,
including threats and demands. The purposes may vary, including racial prejudice, personal
malice, an attempt to force someone to quit a job or grant sexual favors, apply illegal pressure to
collect a bill, or merely gain sadistic pleasure from making someone fearful or anxious. Such
activities may be the basis for a lawsuit if due to discrimination based on race or sex, a violation
on the statutory limitations on collection agencies, involve revenge by an ex-spouse, or be shown
to be a form of blackmail ("I'll stop bothering you, if you'll go to bed with me"). The victim may
file a petition for a "stay away" (restraining) order, intended to prevent contact by the offensive
party. A systematic pattern of harassment by an employee against another worker may subject the
employer to a lawsuit for failure to protect the worker.
Harassment is a major issue in the workplace and it affects millions of workers, especially in
Pakistan. Most people here know what harassment means, however their ideas are vague on
the different types of harassment that exist. Therefore, let me first slightly elaborate on the
different types of harassment that exist.

Sexual harassment
Racial/ ethnic harassment
Religious harassment
Age harassment
Gender harassment

Question 2
Being a female professional engineer how would you rescue yourself and your colleagues from
harassment at your workplace?

Answer
According to a new study, male-dominated workplaces can cause dangerously high levels of
anxiety in women. I find women to be the soul of every nation and with the great paradigm shift
in the process of globalization; women are entering the market place more rapidly than ever
before. This is forming an empowering symbol of what women can do at work, not just at home,
through the utilization of their skilled work and innate talent.
Unfortunately, there are a few grotesque vultures that have taken the development of women
entering the workplace as a window to promote and perform violence and mistreatment against
women. Whether the reason for this is to halt women from progressing in society or whether it

is the simple inability of some men to control their desires in the workplace, it is an act strongly
condemned in Pakistan and there is no rational or irrational justification for harassment of
women at work.
Here are a list of simple steps women can implement to end harassment
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Start an awareness campaign to show that a Bill related to Womens Rights in the
workplace was passed.
Create a photocopy manuscript of the bill of rights related to women rights in workplace
and keep a copy of it at the workplace so that everyone is aware of their rights.
If your friends or colleagues at work make innocent or casual jokes in this regard,
condemn them and let them know that joking about such issues is not harmless, nor is it funny, as
it subconsciously creates the notion that harassment is an issue to be taken lightly.
Be aware of your workplace environment and colleagues. If you notice a certain
employee acting differently or their motivation levels decreased, channel your emotional
intelligence and dont be afraid to ask them if theyre doing okay. You will be surprised to see
how many people can open up about the harassment that they have faced if they have a helping
hand and a lending ear.
At your firm talk to your HR department to host a seminar or a work shop on sexual
harassment.
If your HR department does not carry through, during your office break, you yourself can
talk of the rights of women and casually bring this topic to light.
If all these tactics fail, then as a woman try to sit in groups with other women during
lunch breaks and avoid going to the workplace bathroom alone.
Try to avoid sitting alone for extra hours of work.
If you are a spiritual individual then you can recite Ayat- Ul Kursi before leaving for
work.
Lastly, do not shy away from talking about this topic. In the event of harassment reporting your
case, remember that it is YOUR haqq, YOUR right granted to you by your state, by your
religion, by the fact that YOU are a human being. Who knows if in being brave you are helping
other women to step forward and be strong as well, and perhaps in the process, preventing
someone else from being harassed.