Sexual Harrasment
Posted by: richman in harold sala, tags: abuse, guidelines, inspirational, motivational, sex, sexual harrasment, spiritual“Abstain from all appearance of evil.” -1 Thessalonians 5:22, KJV
Women the world over say, you don’t have to define it. When you are on the receiving end, you know what it is. But a definition is still in order. The broader understanding is that sexual harassment involves behavior which embraces either language or actions of a sexual nature, whereby unwritten and usually unspoken conditions of employment include submitting to the same. Women are usually the victims.
And why don’t women who are offended by a male employer or fellow employee just quit and walk out, or point the accusing finger so that the situation is corrected? Lots of reasons, including the embarrassment which often results, the possible recriminations which make her out to be the aggressor, and certainly not without weight: the fact that she badly needs employment.
Since the beginning of time, situations involving abuse have been common. If you question that fact, take your Bible and read the book of Genesis, where you will find cases of rape and incest as well as sexual abuse. But the fact that it has been with us for a long while, doesn’t justify its existence today. That men will be men is hardly an acceptable excuse.
Today we hear a lot of talk about raising our awareness of the issue, and while that is well and good, I’m more concerned about raising our awareness of the solution to the problem. In exactly 15 Greek words, the Apostle Paul not only addressed the problem but gave us a lasting solution to it as well. Here’s what he wrote: “Treat younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity” (1 Tim. 5:1-2). In those few words Paul addresses the whole gamut of sexual relationships. Treat younger men as you would your own brother, older women as your mother, and younger women as your own sister—but Paul adds a qualifying phrase when he talks about how you treat younger women. He adds the phrase, “with absolute purity.” That same word was used by Plato when he wrote of being “innocent.” It is used in relationship to women as being “sexually pure.” It leaves little room for doubt as to what it means.
The following guidelines, if followed, would eliminate sexual harassment once and for all.
Guidelines #1: Put yourself in the position of the one with whom you work.
This is valid for everyone. Jesus said it: “In everything, do to others what you would have them do to you” (Matthew 7:12). Known as the “Golden Rule,” this kind of role playing produces sensitivity towards each other and goes a long ways towards eliminating miscommunication between men and women. Phrases which may be meaningful to your wife, such as “honey” or “darling” may be appropriate at home but are out of place at the office or shop.
Guideline #2: Realize that what may be humorous to you may be patently offensive to members of the opposite sex.
That men and women don’t understand each other is an understatement. Humor which is funny at the cost of someone’s discomfort is always in poor taste.
Guideline #3: Understand that non-verbal signals convey messages that can be easily misinterpreted.
This also includes the fact that how you dress or conduct yourself may send a message to a member of the opposite sex which seems to give license to that person to go beyond what is appropriate.
Guideline #4: Treat older women as mothers; young women as sisters. And that one alone eliminates once and for all the problems which result in abuses.
When it is all said and done, the solution involves character and integrity, and when those ingredients are present, the problem evaporates. Think about it.
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“The preceding material was written by Dr. Harold J. Sala, and is copyrighted. Reproduction for sale or financial profit is prohibited. Permission to reproduce this article was granted by Guidelines, Inc.”
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