KUCHING: In recent years, the discourse surrounding sexual harassment has undergone a transformative shift, challenging long-standing perceptions and acknowledging that both men and women can be victims.
As society strives for greater inclusivity and awareness, the spotlight turns to understanding the nuanced impact of harassment on individuals, irrespective of gender.
As such, the New Sarawak Tribune spoke to experts to explain the details of sexual harassment, the impact on victims’ mental wellbeing, and the crucial importance of taking proactive steps to create environments that stop and deal with this widespread problem.
A psychiatrist and medical lecturer at the Department of Psychological Medicine at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) Dr Ting Chuong Hock redirected the discourse on sexual harassment towards acknowledging men as victims.
He shed light on the evolving understanding of sexual harassment, emphasising that traditional notions of male strength and dominance may contribute to the limited acknowledgment of men as victims.
“In general, people may tend to think that men are more powerful and dominant due to their masculinity.
“Because of this understanding, men were traditionally thought to be stronger and needed less protection.
“Most people would advocate for women’s rights, and the policies were also often skewed to address women’s needs,” he said when contacted.
Dr Ting stressed that this bias has historically tilted policies and advocacy towards addressing women’s needs, leaving the male experience understudied.
As such, he stressed the importance of a more in-depth examination of this specific issue, asserting that both men and women have an equal chance of encountering harassment.
“Indeed, both men and women have an equal chance of encountering harassment, although the proportion may be higher among women. It is definitely a specific issue worth studying more in depth,” he said.
When questioned about the common occurrence of sexual harassment, Dr Ting pointed to the workplace as a hotspot, citing power imbalances that hinder reporting.
He highlighted the fear of consequences faced by subordinates when reporting individuals with higher authority.
“I believe the workplace would be highly prevalent, especially when there is an obvious power discrepancy whereby the subordinates may fear unwanted consequences if they stand up to report the perpetrators that have higher authority,” he added.
Discussing the psychological impacts, he asserted that the effects of sexual harassment do not discriminate by gender.
“Male victims, like their female counterparts, experience depression, anxiety, and Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), impairing their social and occupational functions,” he said.
Delving into the challenges faced by male victims when reporting or discussing their experiences, Dr Ting identified societal gender norms as a significant barrier.
He said that because of societal gender norms, many male victims hesitate to seek help, fearing they might be perceived as weak or face judgement when attempting to report incidents.
He stressed that addressing these concerns through increased awareness programmes is crucial to reshaping societal perspectives on gender equality.
In light of this, he called for increased awareness programmes to challenge stereotypes and emphasised the importance of stakeholders providing resources to support male victims.
“It is vital to ensure that stakeholders play an active role in providing resources to support male victims.
“Every effort to seek help should be acknowledged, and promoting help-seeking behaviour becomes paramount to curbing the issue.”
To address these issues, he recommended proactive measures at both individual and organisational levels.
He stressed the need for updated organisational policies, comprehensive law enforcement, and educational initiatives to equip individuals with knowledge about their rights.
“If possible, research should also be done to inform the public the prevalence and severity of this issue,” he said.
