From a young age, many women are societally conditioned to accept acts of sexual harassment made against them. We are taught to excuse predatory behaviour and classify them as jokes, compliments and harmless fun. Of course, with sexual harassment being viewed this way, many victims tend to brush off acts of sexual misconduct against them as just a part of the norm. As a result, it usually goes unchecked and festers, particularly in workplace environments. Under Guyana’s Prevention of Discrimination Act of 1997, sexual harassment is a criminal offence. However, coverage under the law for sexual harassment only specifies the workplace. This points to one of the many gaps that exist in tackling the very prevalent issue.
There is often the incorrect belief that sexual harassment only refers to things such as the catcalls many of us Guyanese women are forced to suffer through on an almost daily basis. While catcalls definitely is one of the most popular forms, the fact is that sexual harassment refers to any unwanted sexual advance, request for sexual favours, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature. Some instances that classify as sexual harassment are such as when there is unwanted hugging, kissing, touching, cornering, sexual teasing, jokes, sexual gestures, pressure for dates and letters and calls or materials of a sexual nature.