Professional Documents
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3, July-September 2012
Womens Link, Volume 18, No.3, July-September 2012 For working women, striking a balance between her family and career is a constant battle against time. A landmark study conducted by sociologist A. Hochschild reveals that on an average women worked roughly 15 hours longer each week than men. Over a year, they worked an extra month of 24-hour-days a year. Over a dozen years, it was an extra year of 24-hour-days. And even after all this toil; she ends up feeling guilty of not effectively satisfying the needs of her home and office. While the rest of the problems are such that they can be solved with purpose and imagination, the overriding problem seems to be that of time management. So unless and until other members of the family, especially male member(s), come forward to share some of the responsibilities of the overburdened working woman, she will find it harder to keep up with todays fast-forward situation. The lack of security is something which every Indian woman faces once outside the protected corridors of her house. The security threat of working women is of an alarming proportion, especially because of the varied nature of work places. Once she is out to fend for herself in the male dominated world, she finds herself in the quagmire of insecurity all the more, which prevents her from accepting jobs during the night time, as well as in far-flung and secluded areas. Sexual harassment at work places is by far the most condemnable and grievous problem faced by working women all over the world, and working women in India, too, are not spared. Unfortunately, we do not have any exclusive legislation to deal with this menace and save the honour of working women. Whatever little protection is being offered is through the section 294, 354 and 509 of the Indian Penal Code, which deal with cases where the modesty of women, at large, is outraged. But even then how many of the working women in India seek legal protection, even when their modesty is outrageously violated? Apprehensive of being ostracised as loose woman they, unlike their western counterparts, do not want to face the humiliating and probing eyes of the public, rather preferring to suffer or leave their jobs. The Supreme Court in 1997 (Vishaka judgment) laid down guidelines to protect women from sexual harassment. However, the Protection of Women against Sexual Harassment Bill, 2010 which redefines sexual harassment and provides a mechanism for redressing complaints is yet to be enacted and become a law. Nevertheless, the problems faced by working women in India are not at all insurmountable. Perceptible changes can definitely be brought about with sincere efforts and proper attention from all concerned. Highlighting the complexity and enormity of the problem in a wider perspective in the mass media would certainly help in bringing about the desired changes in near future. The actual situation must be brought out in the open by conducting more and more fact-oriented studies and researches to create a social awareness amongst all. It is high time the Government enacts the Protection of Women against Sexual Harassment at Work Places Bill 2010 and implements its provisions to save their rights and dignity at work places. Dr. Rakesh K Singh Editor