Sexual harassment - Research Paper Example

However, within the past several decades, a series of progressive monarchs have sought to institute a slow level of change within the culture and law of the nation. Whereas each of these monarchs have ultimately been the sons of the original King Abdulaziz, the extent to which they are willing to liberalize and broaden the con strengths that have previously defined Saudi society have been somewhat profound (Wuensch & Moore, 2004). Whereas 30 years ago it was all but impossible to find a woman in the workforce, the events of the past several decades have witnessed a large group of women attaining higher education, both within and outside of Saudi Arabia, and utilizing this education to compete within the domestic workforce.

Although the exhibition of women in the workforce is still miniscule as compared to men, it nonetheless represents a trend that promises to reverse much of the disparity that has previously been elaborated upon. Unfortunately, as might be expected, the introduction of women into the workforce of Saudi Arabia have created a situation by which the cultural and traditional understandings of gender roles have been challenged. As a direct result of this challenge, many men within Saudi Arabia have resorted to sexual harassment as a means of challenging this new norm and expressing their own dominance.

Whatever the cause of this negative reaction to women in the workforce, the fact of the matter is that increasing rates of sexual harassment are currently taking place within Saudi Arabia; as compared to the rates of sexual harassment that had previously been recorded prior to the introduction of women the workforce (Abrams, 2012). Although it might be tempting for the reader to point to Saudi Arabia as a unique case, the fact of the matter is that any nation that integrates women is the workforce will ultimately experienced a period of history in which increased levels of sexual harassment are noted due to the fact that men are inherently challenged and insecure with regards to the presence of women in a previously male-dominated environment.

As a function of understanding this to a more personal level, the following analysis will seek to define and relate situation in which sexual harassment impacted this author and provided a powerful understanding of how the situation should be dealt with in an ethical and moral manner. Coming from a large family, I had a number of brothers who were older than I and had already begun work. Growing up, it was always interesting to hear the discussions that took place between my father and my older brothers as he sought to give them some advice with regards to the direction in which their careers were respectively progressing.

one particularly poignant instance was with regards to when my oldest brother approach my father and requested his advice concerning a situation that was taking place at his place of employment. Ultimately, my brother related a situation in which one of his female colleagues was continually approach, belittled, ridiculed, and sexually harassed by a fellow coworker. Although it cannot be said that my brother was a champion of feminism nor intrinsically dedicated to protecting the rights of women, he nonetheless understood that the situation which was taking place was both wrong and ultimately intolerable (Saunders & Easteal 2012).