By Fabeha Ahmed
“Should I do something? … It is okay to intervene?” Ever felt like you’ve witnessed someone in an uncomfortable situation and had no idea whether to respond or even how to? A majority of women would agree that they have been harassed in some form at least once in their lives. Harassment is any unwanted behavior done to intimidate or threaten someone. But what if YOU could save someone from that torment? Your one action may protect 10s, if not more women from harassment. Let’s talk about how you can make a difference in the state of women around you.
Identifying Harassment
Before giving any reaction, the most fundamental thing is recognizing harassment. Harassment can occur not just physically, but also verbally and non-verbally. Touching someone without consent, spouting abusive language to intimidate, giving unsolicited gifts, or staring at someone for prolonged periods are some of the many examples.
The way to detect harassment starts with a simple trust in your instincts. If you see someone being treated in a way that makes you uncomfortable, it is most likely harassment. But don’t just act accusatory yet. We’ll talk about how to respond later. Harassment is subjective, what you see may not be what the potential victim feels.
Look for repeated offensive behavior by the perpetrator and non-verbal signs of discomfort in the victim such as distressed facial expressions and tense body language. Moreover, It is important to recognize the context, is the interaction appropriate in this situation?
Responding to Harassment as a Witness
Once you have realized you may be witnessing harassment, the first thing you can do is distract. This is an indirect intervention whereby the witness interferes and stops the harassment by talking to or distracting the victim. This disables the harasser momentarily and may be enough to get the victim out of the situation.
Sometimes it is better to address and shame the abuser for their acts directly. This way they will think before they pester someone in the future. Only do this if you are sure that the behavior is inappropriate. Remember to keep your safety a priority; if it is not possible to directly address, then it is better to delay your action.
By delaying, you are buying time to talk to the victim and console them. This helps confirm if your gut feeling was accurate. For a victim, mere support like this can mean everything, so this is a must on your part. If you suspect someone of being harassed, communicate with them. Let them know they are not alone.
Furthermore, sometimes a simple witness intervention is not enough. You may have to complain to the authorities who can take measures to ensure a safe environment and reprimand the perpetrator. Before involving authorities, it is a good idea to collect proof of harassment. This can be in the form of images, audio, or texts. Eyewitness accounts are valuable in such situations.
Harassment is a major issue for women everywhere. If you catch someone getting harassed, remember they may not be the only victim, your actions to stop that harassment may be helpful for many other sufferers. Always act wisely, consider your safety, and take one of the measures discussed here to make a difference.
Comment below what you would do if you witnessed harassment. Do you think witness intervention is as important as victims defending themselves?
2 Comments
Brilliant!
Perfectly written writeup, I believe that witnessing harassment plays pivitol role in helping victim emotionally and as well as in accusation of preparatory.