Sexual harassment should not be limited to experience and gender

When you think of s3xual harassment what comes to mind?

Unfortunately, people only think of the extremes of rape or attempted rape.

Why is it only taken seriously when it reaches extremes when rape could have been prevented by paying more attention to the “smaller” signs?

There should be more awareness of the different types of s3xual harassment, even when they seem harmless. Anything that makes an individual uncomfortable should be attended to.

Rape is a form of s3xual harassment, but not all s3xual harassments are rape.

Action should be taken the moment someone feels uncomfortable or offended.

“Oh but it was just a joke.” That’s how it all starts. They try to make your discomfort seem like an overreaction when their actions are truly unbearable. These comments, jokes, stares, questions, touches, or even something as “simple” as blocking someone’s way to trap them with your company; this could be seen and felt like sexual harassment.

Do you know that one non-consent touch or invasive stare is enough to directly impact one’s life? The feeling of discomfort in public or even in private is planted in the person; anxiety, stress, lowered self-esteem, and even social withdrawal might occur.

Why should one have to be quiet about how they feel or have suffered just to avoid having their emotions belittled just because what they experienced wasn’t “extreme”?

S3xual harassment could be experienced by anyone, despite gender, age, or any other stereotypical factors.

Males are also victims of sexual harassment, but when they try to speak out, they are not given the same attention and care as females since they are MEN. The male gender was also created with emotions no matter how much society tries to hide it; they have the ability to feel uncomfortable. There are no real stereotypes to victims of s3xual harassment.

Your gender, age and even what you’re wearing doesn’t determine whether you could be a victim or not.

Cases like this should not be normalised; awareness has to be spread.

Razan Zein, Ibadan

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