Sexual discrimination is defined as being treated badly or unfairly because of your gender. Unfortunately, discrimination of all kinds still occurs in the workplace to this day, although it probably isn’t as common as it was three or four decades ago. If you think that you may be a victim of sexual discrimination, here are 5 ways to cope with the situation.
Understand What It Is
There are several different types of sexual discrimination that can occur in the workplace. These are direct sexual discrimination, indirect sexual discrimination, harassment related to your sex, sexual harassment, and victimization.
An example of direct discrimination is when a person with the same experience and qualifications as another person is promoted over them because of their gender. Indirect sexual discrimination is when something occurs at work that puts gender at a disadvantage, such as changing working hours, meaning that a nursing mother cannot go home in time to feed her babies.
When a boss makes a statement about not putting women in positions of authority because they will just leave to have babies is an example of harassment due to gender. It is not directed at one person in particular. In comparison, sexual harassment is when a person directly offends a colleague – such as putting pictures of naked women on their office wall. Victimization occurs when a person is penalized or targeted by another person because they made a complaint about sexual discrimination.
Seek Professional Guidance
Suppose you suspect that you may be a victim of sexual discrimination. In that case, you should seek the advice of a professional in your area, such as a company dealing in employment law in Birmingham, Alabama. An employment attorney will analyze your case and advise you on the best course of action.
Put it in Writing
You should keep notes of all the instances of sexual discrimination you experience. Date the entries and keep the notes away from prying eyes. Collate and print out any emails or paper evidence relating to the discrimination so that you have an excellent physical backup to support your case.
Make a Formal Complaint
As soon as you experience an upsetting incident, you should report it immediately to your line manager or Human Resources department. Ensure that they make a written recording of everything you say. You may want to confide in a colleague you can trust so they can accompany you and back up your claims. Look in your employment contract to see what the procedure is for making a formal grievance against a coworker or employer.
Speak to a Friend
Sexual discrimination can be very traumatic, and it often helps to talk to someone you can trust outside of work, such as a best friend or family member. These people will be able to offer impartial advice and support.
Just remember that your workplace should be a safe and friendly place in which to work. Nobody should be made to feel inadequate, threatened, or scared.
