Sexual Harassment FGD (Social Workers)

Published on: September 30, 2019
Women at Workplace

Insights from a Focus Group Discussion

Why This Report Matters

Social workers play a critical role in supporting women in distress, often working in emotionally charged and vulnerable environments. Ironically, many of these professionals themselves face harassment and hostility in the workplace. This focused group discussion (FGD), conducted in August 2019, brings to light the lived experiences of 17 women social workers—revealing not only the prevalence of sexual harassment but also the systemic gaps in awareness, reporting, and institutional support.

The findings are a sobering reminder that even those working to protect others are not immune to workplace violations. This report aims to amplify their voices and encourage organizations, NGOs, and policymakers to take meaningful action.

Study Overview

  • Methodology: Focus Group Discussion
  • Facilitator: Ms. Amarpreet Kaur
  • Participants: 17 women social workers
  • Location: India
  • Data Type: Mix of unique and non-unique responses
  • Note: Only select data points are shared in this public excerpt

Key Findings

Prevalence of Harassment

  • 76% of participants reported experiencing sexual harassment.
  • 85% of these incidents occurred within the first five years of their careers.
  • Only 15% reported the incident to any authority.
  • A significant number were unaware of the Internal Committee (IC) mandated under the PoSH Act.

Nature of Harassment

Participants reported facing:

  • Sexually explicit jokes and comments
  • Inappropriate touching and flirty behavior
  • Requests for sexual favors or personal meetings
  • Obscene language and comments on physical appearance

Hostile Work Environment

Beyond sexual harassment, many faced:

  • Unfair questioning of intellectual capabilities
  • Denial of credit and resources
  • Public humiliation and exclusion from core work
  • Unjustified denial of promotions and training opportunities

Awareness & Training Gaps

  • 47% of participants were unaware of IC/LC in their organizations.
  • Many had never received training on the Sexual Harassment Act, even years after its enactment in 2013.

Coping & Response

Reactions varied:

  • Some quit their jobs or avoided the harasser.
  • Others confronted the behavior or spoke to peers.
  • Very few filed formal complaints—either internally or with legal authorities.

Vulnerability of Younger Workers

  • 84.6% of harassment cases occurred within the first five years of employment.
  • This highlights the need for early sensitization and protective mechanisms for new entrants in the workforce.

Why Download the Full Report?

This public excerpt only scratches the surface. The full report offers:

  • Detailed breakdowns of behaviors and hostile patterns
  • Insights into systemic failures in training and awareness
  • Real voices and experiences of frontline social workers
  • Actionable recommendations for organizations and policymakers

Download Report

About Author

Amarpreet Kaur