Harassment among Women at Workplace: A Cross-Sectional Study in Coastal South India

Harassment is any improper and unwelcome conduct that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation to another person. Harassment may take the form of words, gestures or actions which tend to annoy, alarm, abuse, demean, intimidate, belittle, humiliate or embarrass another or which create an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment.(1) Women face discrimination from childhood, especially in communities where there is a preference for the male child.(2) Harassment in the work place is becoming increasingly important in all sectors of the economy, largely due to growing numbers of negative consequences. This has lead to the formulation of anti-harassment policies by several non-government organizations.(3) This study was carried out to find out harassment among women at workplace, types and reasons for harassment generally faced by working women.