Drawing a line while working with women
By RENAD GHANEM |
Published: Jun 18, 2011 00:19 Updated: Jun 18, 2011 00:19
JEDDAH: Women say they are still suffering harassment from men in a mixed working environment.
Part of the problem is that men are not educated on how to deal with the opposite sex in the workplace, they claimed, adding the majority of them do not know where the line is when dealing with women and what could offend them.
Some of their actions are interpreted as harassment even if they were with honest intentions.
Some women quit their jobs and search for a ladies-only environment. Other women tend to maintain minimal interaction with men.
Duoaa Ahmed, a 25-year-old Saudi woman working at a private company in Jeddah, decided to quit her job in a private advertising firm because her boss was overfriendly with her. She did not tell her family why she resigned.
My boss was overfriendly and I did not feel comfortable around him. He used his position to flirt with me. Every morning he complimented the way I dress, the way my eyes looked, my abaya and many other things. Despite the fact I told him that I was not feeling comfortable with the way he talked, he did not listen. What disgusted me was that he was married with four kids. Within two weeks, I was out, she added.
Arwa Muhammad, a 32-year-old Saudi woman who works at a private company, does not believe running away to escape harassment is a solution. She believes that a woman should be tough and face harassment head-on. She said that she would not be pushed away because of the actions of irresponsible men.
Every woman should have a strong personality and should know how to deal with harassment. They could report it immediately or deal with it by putting the person in his place. The best way in my opinion is to avoid situations that lead to harassment and keep it strictly professional, Arwa said.
She added that if every woman left her work because of irresponsible actions from some men, then women wouldnt achieve any progress in their professional life.
A Saudi employee who chose to remain anonymous and works as a receptionist at a private clinic in Jeddah to support her husband said the last thing women need to deal with is harassment in the workplace.
Those who think of harassing women at work using their powerful positions should know that many of us are working out of need and not luxury, she said.
Hala Abdul Allah, a Saudi administrator at a private company in Jeddah, believes men are not educated on how to deal with women in the workplace. She claimed the majority of men treat women as toys that they need to play with.
When I am interacting with men, I keep it to the point. I do not discuss other points or subjects other than work. My main reason is to avoid anything that could lead to harassment. Some men may get mixed messages and get the wrong idea. For example, if I smile at my male workers, he might think something different. So to save myself the trouble, I avoid it completely, she added.
http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article456655.ece
By RENAD GHANEM |
Published: Jun 18, 2011 00:19 Updated: Jun 18, 2011 00:19
JEDDAH: Women say they are still suffering harassment from men in a mixed working environment.
Part of the problem is that men are not educated on how to deal with the opposite sex in the workplace, they claimed, adding the majority of them do not know where the line is when dealing with women and what could offend them.
Some of their actions are interpreted as harassment even if they were with honest intentions.
Some women quit their jobs and search for a ladies-only environment. Other women tend to maintain minimal interaction with men.
Duoaa Ahmed, a 25-year-old Saudi woman working at a private company in Jeddah, decided to quit her job in a private advertising firm because her boss was overfriendly with her. She did not tell her family why she resigned.
My boss was overfriendly and I did not feel comfortable around him. He used his position to flirt with me. Every morning he complimented the way I dress, the way my eyes looked, my abaya and many other things. Despite the fact I told him that I was not feeling comfortable with the way he talked, he did not listen. What disgusted me was that he was married with four kids. Within two weeks, I was out, she added.
Arwa Muhammad, a 32-year-old Saudi woman who works at a private company, does not believe running away to escape harassment is a solution. She believes that a woman should be tough and face harassment head-on. She said that she would not be pushed away because of the actions of irresponsible men.
Every woman should have a strong personality and should know how to deal with harassment. They could report it immediately or deal with it by putting the person in his place. The best way in my opinion is to avoid situations that lead to harassment and keep it strictly professional, Arwa said.
She added that if every woman left her work because of irresponsible actions from some men, then women wouldnt achieve any progress in their professional life.
A Saudi employee who chose to remain anonymous and works as a receptionist at a private clinic in Jeddah to support her husband said the last thing women need to deal with is harassment in the workplace.
Those who think of harassing women at work using their powerful positions should know that many of us are working out of need and not luxury, she said.
Hala Abdul Allah, a Saudi administrator at a private company in Jeddah, believes men are not educated on how to deal with women in the workplace. She claimed the majority of men treat women as toys that they need to play with.
When I am interacting with men, I keep it to the point. I do not discuss other points or subjects other than work. My main reason is to avoid anything that could lead to harassment. Some men may get mixed messages and get the wrong idea. For example, if I smile at my male workers, he might think something different. So to save myself the trouble, I avoid it completely, she added.
http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article456655.ece
