Letters: Sexual harassment

Apropos the report "Demographic Dividend fast becoming a curse" (August 30), the author has presented a rich resource of analysis and placed the blame on non-labour intensive growth and a skewed sex ratio that germinates into young uneducated, sexually frustrated "loafers". This conclusion was deduced unanimously by various researchers. Prima facie, it appears accurate, but it makes a naive assumption that well-educated men, having well-paying and productive jobs and a family life, have a high opportunity cost of attempting a sexual assault, and hence restrain themselves. The recent events, much in relation to India as well, do not resonate in the same scale with this conclusion. Take the case of Phaneesh Murthy for instance.

A recent survey conducted by The Huffington Post on Workplace Harassment had some interesting revelations to make as well. According to the poll, 13 per cent of respondents reported having been sexually harassed by a boss or another superior, and 19 per cent have been harassed by a co-worker other than a boss or superior. This makes 32 per cent. Of those who said they had experienced sexual harassment, a full 70 per cent said they never reported it. It must be noted that the US has better employment opportunities than India and a very high literacy rate. What exactly are researchers missing?

Anshuman Pant Lucknow

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