Implication of workplace sexual harassment of the working women in Nigeria

Abstract

Worldly, sexual harassment (SH) in the workplace has long been an issue of concern and a major challenge to most organisations. SH is a persistent unwelcome sexual behaviour or advance directed to the workers including job seekers, at workplace by either their colleagues, superiors, supervisors, employers, among others, that may potentially hamper or compromise the capacities to work or actively participate in the organisational activities. It is with no doubt that such a sexual relationship is degrading and influenced by male in position of authority, taking advantage of the female workers. The theoretical framework for the paper is Robert K. Merton‘s Perspective of Functionalism which assumes that the inability of the organisational structures including the employers, supervisors, managers, and other workers, to harmoniously function creates sexual harassment; a dysfunction to organisational goals. The issue has seriously affected the contribution of working women in the workplace. The paper concludes that when women are faced with SH in the workplace, the consequences are felt on their social and psychological wellbeing and the level of productivity both within and outside the organizational settings. Additionally, SH in the workplace threatens women‘s job security, their earning potentials and productive capacity, thereby exposing them to weak morale and unhealthy organizational atmosphere. It is recommended that the harassed workers boldly speak out, organize support networks and take effective action against SH.

Keywords: Sexual harassment, Workplace, Women, Implication, Individuals, Organisation, Working women