Preventing and protesting workplace sexual harassment: Women agro‐processing workers in Bangladesh

Abstract

Motivation: Sexual harassment of women in the workplace is considered to be one of the reasons holding back women from entering work and a major reason for women dropping out of work in Bangladesh. However, paid work is an important pathway to empowerment. To enable and sustain women's entry into the formal sectors of the economy, it is important to understand their voice and agency in preventing workplace sexual harassment and from the obstacles they face in doing so. Purpose: The article explores how language and social and gender norms constrain young women's voice and agency in response to sexual harassment. Our research asked how language, gender norms, and informality in work arrangements influence young women's voice and agency in response to sexual harassment at work. Methods and approach: Based on case studies with factory workers in agro-processing firms in the outskirts of the capital, Dhaka, 21 indepth interviews were carried out, supplemented by participatory techniques of gender safety audits and body mapping. Findings: I show the informal nature of formal workspaces and the failure of formal institutions which create precarity for the women working there. Young women's experiences, perceptions, and articulation of sexual harassment and attempts at prevention or redress are determined by gender norms and how these norms influence the factory workspace and interactions with others in that space. I argue that sexual harassment is normalized, formal complaints mechanisms do not work, and so informal means aligned with social norms may be the only option available. Policy implications: The policy implications of the research include the need to recognize the informal mechanisms being used and the importance of developing a common language that will allow the "victims" to speak openly about their experiences and make complaints, increasing access to and confidence in formal complaints mechanisms and developing young women's civic and political capacities to protest harassment and seek redress.

Introduction to special section: Workplace sexual harassment

“…Norms dictate that incidents of harassment may be discussed in public only by using euphemisms, which may limit the gravity of the incident and trivialize it (Barr, 1993). The lack of appropriate language may also limit women's ability to voice to others, particularly family and friends, and ask for support (Nazneen & Huq, 2023; Sultan, 2023). It may also limit what kinds of redress may be sought from authorities.…”

“…Norms may influence who the female worker approaches to discuss the issue within the family, community, or workplace (Namuggala & Oosterom, 2023; Nazneen & Huq, 2023). In most cases the person they approach tends to be a woman, as discussing incidents that involve sexuality may be considered inappropriate with a man (Sultan, 2023). Norms also influence what kinds of avenues workers choose to voice incidents and in which forums.…”