Questioning Sexual Harassment

AFP PHOTO/Frederic J. BROWN

Cast members of Big Little Lies (from left) Laura Dern, Nicole Kidman, Zoe Kravitz, Reese Witherspoon and Shailene Woodley pose for director Jean-Marc Vallee with three of the four awards the TV series won on Jan. 7 during the 75th Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills, California.

Amid the various efforts to create a just and equitable world for men and women, women continue to experience sexual harassment. Protests over violence against women received worldwide attention during the 75th Golden Globe Awards that was held on Sunday evening (7/1) at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California. Actresses, agents, writers, directors and executives of the entertainment world wore black, with several of them sporting pins that read “Time\'s Up”, in a show of solidarity with the victims of sexual harrassment.

Protests against the sexual harassment of women have come to the world\'s attention since the 2016 US presidential campaign. The American public became divisive when Donald Trump, who had made statements that were deemed sexist, was finally elected president. On Jan. 21, 2017, women and men in the US campaigned for civil and human rights, including women\'s rights, through the Women\'s March.

Golden Globes award ceremony delivered a very strong message. This was not only because it was delivered by major figures of the US film and television industry in a live event that was aired worldwide, but also because sexual harassment and violence still happens in many countries, including Indonesia.

AFP PHOTO/Frederic J. BROWN

The ensemble cast of Big Little Lies (from left), Laura Dern, Nicole Kidman, Zoe Kravitz, Reese Witherspoon and Shailene Woodley, pose with three of the four awards the TV series adaptation won on Jan. 7 at the 75th Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills, California. Big Little Lies took home Best Limited TV Series or TV Movie, as well as best actress for Kidman, best supporting actor for co-star Alexander Skarsgard (not pictured) and best supporting actress for Dern in the same category.

In Indonesia, members of the public are currently encouraging the House of Representatives (DPR) to immediately ratify the Draft Law on the Elimination of Sexual Violence to protect women and children. The National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan) records that gender-based violence that has led to the death of women still continues to take place, with not a few cases preceded by sexual violence.

Sexual harassment and violence against women are only the tip of the iceberg. Such harassment and violence occurs because of unequal power relationships. The victims usually do not want to report their cases of harassment and violence, especially when the perpetrators are close to them, whether relatives or their bosses at work. The reluctance or fear of reporting is also caused by the fact that the general public, and even a number of our high-ranking officials, tend to blame the victims.

The wages of female workers remain lower than men for the same job.

Sexual harassment is only one of the issues faced in the efforts to build a just socity of gender equality. Gender-based discrimination still happens in the workplace, even though Indonesia legally recognizes equal rights and obligations for all citizens. The wages of female workers remain lower than men for the same job. Women still face glass ceilings in their workplaces, even though much evidence shows that women offer perspectives that have a positive impact on decision-making, because of differences in their experiences compared to men, especially differences in their reproductive function.

We do not want to differentiate between men and women, but want interdependence based on equality and justice. Education can change the public mindset, aside from regulations. However, public figures also provide models of other means that must also be undertaken.