Sexual Harassment could be defined as "harassment (typically of a woman) in a workplace, or other professional or social situation, involving the making of unwanted sexual advances or obscene remarks"
Isatou Taseer Barry-A young Gambia women trying to empowered herself and women around her
This is so very common to see in our societies. Just the other time, I was in the interior of The Gambia and this young girl around 9/10 years was joking around with a young man (around 25 or so), but then I looked and all those jokes were more based on the man holding her waist, playfully hitting her waist with his hands, holding her chest, and everyone sees it as "normal”. And they tell you they are cousins or she is my little wife .heyyyyy!
But in reality, there is nothing normal about that. It’s called "Abuse and degradation of the girl child" and absolutely and totally ABNORMAL and Total ABNORMALITY.
I always talk to a lot of underage girls and I’m starting to think that in almost every 5 girls; 4 would undergo some form of sexual abuse/harassment (verbal or physical) before they reach the ages of 18-19, but no one knows about this because these girls are made to believe that it's normal for some male guys in your family to touch you in such ways and you just have to laugh off and play on. The common saying is "you are cousins and cousins do everything funnily *"
And one thing that girls are never taught by society is the "Power of the word NO”. They are made to believe by society that all is well and there is nothing wrong with a cousin, an uncle, family, friend etc. touching you in a way you don't like or in a way you aren't comfortable with and you are taught to just smile off.
But in reality, there is nothing normal about that. It’s called "Abuse and degradation of the girl child" and absolutely and totally ABNORMAL and Total ABNORMALITY.
I always talk to a lot of underage girls and I’m starting to think that in almost every 5 girls; 4 would undergo some form of sexual abuse/harassment (verbal or physical) before they reach the ages of 18-19, but no one knows about this because these girls are made to believe that it's normal for some male guys in your family to touch you in such ways and you just have to laugh off and play on. The common saying is "you are cousins and cousins do everything funnily *"
And one thing that girls are never taught by society is the "Power of the word NO”. They are made to believe by society that all is well and there is nothing wrong with a cousin, an uncle, family, friend etc. touching you in a way you don't like or in a way you aren't comfortable with and you are taught to just smile off.
This is not only abuse/sexual harassment but it's a degradation of the female child-you making her feel insecure about herself and her body. This is so very common in almost all countries and especially in Africa but it's a hidden agenda because no one seems to notice it but we call it normal and it see it normal.
What we can do to fight against this is not only engaging society in workshops, going to radio stations and engaging leaders. Many organizations and individuals are on it and child rights laws are in place but I have realized that the most effective way we can do this is by listening to girls and teaching them that, there is nothing normal in that and they have a right to say "NO" when someone touches them in a way they are not comfortable with. And this is what we can all do.
What we can do to fight against this is not only engaging society in workshops, going to radio stations and engaging leaders. Many organizations and individuals are on it and child rights laws are in place but I have realized that the most effective way we can do this is by listening to girls and teaching them that, there is nothing normal in that and they have a right to say "NO" when someone touches them in a way they are not comfortable with. And this is what we can all do.
Author
Isatou Taseer Barry
A young Gambia women trying to empowered herself and women around her
A young Gambia women trying to empowered herself and women around her
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