Forgot your password?
Not yet a member? Join now!
 
Find People
Invite friends
to Jeeran
 
   
 

A Pigeon Called Frank   Egypt   
October, 21, 2007 4:46 PM
Nice post!

I think what complicates the matter in Arab societies is the same thing that prevents many women from reporting about being raped; it is seen as partly the woman's fault and embarrassing for her and the family...which is obviously retarded but that's how most Arab societies view 'honor'.

So if a woman is getting advances from a man at work, if she goes and reports it to 'bust' him, if he's a real creep then he might start talking about how she led him on and suddenly the whole thing has become a huge problem. Especially if she's married.

However, i think that these problems wouldn't happen in most good (multi-national) companies.
kinzi
October, 22, 2007 9:13 PM
Ola, great post. I was just at a conference about sexual abuse, and the damage done to a women's core identity when she is objectified like this (especially the way it happens in the East) is real and lasting.

When I explained to other participants that this kind of abuse is a way of life for women here, they just couldn't get it.

I dare Susan Faludi to take on the Eastern world with her desire for women's equality and rights.

No it shouldn't stop anyone. But it will.
bahloul   Jordan   
October, 23, 2007 10:17 AM
nice post Ola, thanks for this subject.

i think there are two points to talk about here, the first that why should a woman work if she's having every thing she need? i know that many of women wants to make something for their selfs but it is still hard to woman, married one especially to do two jobs at same time, mother and her work, but may be some women needs this work to help the family for a best future.

the second thing that some women didn't dress a good dress, and following the west with so bad stylish moda, thats one of the reasons for what happens now in our societies, so it is not the mens fault only it is a shared one between both of them women and men.
ola   Jordan   
October, 23, 2007 10:38 AM
Bahloul: we're not talking here about why women work. It doesn't matter whether she works because she needs it or not, there's no differece when it come to sexual harrassment. Working women should be treated with respect whatever their reasons for work were. We can't solve the problem by telling all women to stay at home. As I saud, it happens everywhere, not only at work. And you said it, some women NEED to work.

As for the second point, I agree that dressing prrperly is essential as a precaution, but that is also not an excuse for harrassment. The harrasser should be punished and the woman should pay more attention to the way she dresses. If you leave your money in an open safe, then someone steals the, you would of course blame yourself for being careless, but you would still blame the robber for stealing and want him to receive his punishment.

And by the way, even women who dress properly face sexual harrassment...
bahloul   Jordan   
October, 23, 2007 11:18 AM
ok i know ola, but the point i want to say that if there no need for woman to go to work, so she can stay most of the day in home and not facing like these problems, i know this is not the solution but it will help her as i think.

for the second this is a one cause of many no one can deny, there is no smoke without a fire, and i agree with you that it is not her fault, and even well dressed women face this problem, the problem is in culture, interests, knowledge and respect for others and their feelings.
ola   Jordan   
October, 23, 2007 4:02 PM
Bahloul, I understand what you mean but my point is: shunning the problem isn't gonna make it go away. Let's say she stayed at home to spare herself the agony, what if she HAD to go out for work again and what about those who do need to work? The issue should be brought up and tackled, we can't jsut say stay at home to avoid harrassment.
Wedad   Jordan   
October, 24, 2007 10:15 AM
Many uncivilized behaviors wouldn't change unless men change their mentality.
Yes it's men's fault :o

They should stop thinking less about women, and treat them as individuals.

and about the dressing part, if others are doing something and I see it as wrong this does not mean that I should forget my morals and doesn't give me the right to treat them badly!
And no, do you think that if she dresses properly "which means what? jelbaab?" they'll stop it? 5alleena ne7ki 3ala mostawa el share3, I saw it several times, men picking on a mom who was wearing jelbaab and carrying her little baby! Another picking on a woman in her 40's. wal mazeed al mazeeed
5alas it's about her being a female, no matter what she's wearing and no matter how old she is.

Now back to work, I think she should deal with it herself, see what to do depending on the circumstances, and women should stand by each others o yla2olhom 7alleh lal mawdoo3 3'air enhom yo23odo bel bait. Men won't help l2no most of them think the same way.
laila   United Kingdom   
March, 07, 2008 2:31 PM
totally agree. It is shocking that such actions are allowed to occur, with no repurcussions for the perps (GRRRR!).

as for the husbands who stop their wives from working because of this. Since it is the middle east, be a man and invoke the respect against any man who disrespects your wife. That would the correct manly response. Deal with the harassaor personally if no legal avanues are open. Locking women up (figuratively speaking of course) is an act of cowardice and lack of masclunity

on another note if women are dressing provocatively for work, then no this is no excuse to harass her. But such dress may be construed as sexual harassment on her part, and she may be asked to tone it down a bit... I read this somewhere cant remember where?

 
 
To comment on this post, please fill in the form below:
Leave a comment
Some HTML tags are allowed: <b>,<i>,<u>,<strong>,<em>
Add smilies
   United States   
User ID
Password
 
* All fields marked with (*) are required
Not a blogger yet? Create your free blog now in the Biggest Arabic Blogs Community.
 
 


 
 
close