Differences in sensitivity toward situations classified as sexual harassment in the workplace between men and women in Syria

• Published in: Journal of humanities and applied social science 2024-10, Vol.6 (5), p.399-419
• Main Authors: Almasri, Imad-Addin, Martini, Nafiza, Al Kadamani, Sedra, Maasarani, Ensaf Abdullah, Abas, Munir
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Accountability; Annoyance; Behavior management; Codes of conduct; Coping strategies; Embarrassment; Employee involvement; Everyday life; Gender; Gender differences; Happiness; Health status; Human resource management; Human resources; Human resources management; Inappropriateness; Males; Mental health; NGOs; Nongovernmental organizations; Organizational environment; Personal safety; Post traumatic stress disorder; Prevention and management strategy; Public health; Questionnaires; Sexual harassment; Social networks; Sociodemographics; Victims; Violence; Well being; Women; Work environment; Workplaces
• ISSN: 2632-279X; 2632-279X
• DOI: 10.1108/JHASS-10-2023-0154

PurposeSexual harassment is a pervasive and damaging issue that affects the physical and mental health and well-being of employees in the workplace. It is a serious public health concern that requires urgent attention and action and very dangerous problem in management. Our studies have shown that women are more likely to be the victims of sexual harassment and are more dissatisfied with the situation, organizations have a moral and legal obligation to take proactive measures to prevent and address sexual harassment, including implementing effective policies, providing employee training and fostering a culture of respect and accountability. By doing so, we can create safer, healthier and more productive work environments for all the employees.Design/methodology/approachThis study consisted of 344 individuals from the Syrian community who completed a questionnaire, that contained statements about harassment to gauge each gender’s perception and sensitivity toward it. The questionnaire was carefully designed to include 30 questions, including daily situations in the work environment that may occur and how they are classified by males and females. Is it harassment or not, and about the HR department have personal safety and security standards such as the code of conduct and the rules regulating these behaviors or not and our research project was a collaboration between the two nongovernmental organizations (NGOs): Stemosis and Institute of Human Resources Management (IHRM).FindingsOur research reveals a distinction between the thinking patterns and coping mechanisms of females and males when it comes to dealing with this phenomenon. We presented various scenarios to our respondents, depicting situations that an individual might face in their everyday life and asked them questions related to the definition of harassment, its root causes and strategies for addressing it. Research has shown that women are at a higher risk of experiencing feelings of fear and dissatisfaction when subjected to sexual harassment. This unfortunate reality highlights the need for greater awareness and action to combat such reprehensible behaviors. Save Women!Research limitations/implicationsThe study faced several limitations in collecting data due to the sensitive and shameful nature of the topic for both men and women in the Syrian Arab Republic. This caused embarrassment for some participants, leading to their unwillingness to participate in the research. Additionally, the study e