Forteza, Jade Danielle E.

BPA-2A

Reaction Paper

GAD and Sexual Harassment

Sexual harassment and gender discrimination at work are major issues that frequently go
unaddressed. It has taken a long time for gender discrimination and sexual harassment to be
acknowledged as serious problems. Gender discrimination is a broad term used to describe two types of
unlawful workplace behavior. Making decisions that give an employment benefit exclusively based on
an employee's gender or sex is the first of these. Sexual harassment is the second form of unlawful
gender discrimination. Oftentimes, gender discrimination and sexual harassment victims are not aware
of what is happening to them until it gets out of control.

The reporting last Tuesday was the only official discussion I've ever had regarding sexual
harassment and gender discrimination. I was concerned because this situation was unfamiliar to me. I
don't have issues with gender discrimination because there is a law that forbids all forms of it, but the
sexual harassment issues that bothered me the most were that the victims did not take the necessary
action to stop the wrongdoer and that the fines and prison terms for those found guilty were incredibly
light.

The first issue that I would like to talk about in sexual harassment is that the victims did not take
the necessary steps to put an end to the perpetrator. I said this based on experience, though not in an
employment or educational environment. I believe the majority of us have encountered catcalling. One
time, I was walking home, I experienced catcalling and he kept asking me whether I had eaten and if I
was going home with someone. I just can't seem to figure out why I didn't act; perhaps I felt scared at
the time and was concerned I might get hurt.

The last issue I would like to leave my comments on is the duly imposed penalties for convicted
sexual harassment offenders. According to RA 7877, the penalty imposed on the offender shall be,
"imprisonment of not less than one month nor more than six months, or a fine of not less than P10,000
nor more than P20,000, or both such fine and imprisonment at the discretion of the court." I don't think
that a fine of P10,000–P20,000 or a sentence of one–six months in jail today will successfully prevent
sexual harassment abusers. To stop wrongdoers from committing the cited offense, I believe the penalty
should be raised and the sentence should be longer.

In conclusion, gender discrimination and sexual harassment is a very serious problem that used
to go unreported but is now being addressed. Victims of various forms of gender discrimination and
sexual harassment should be protected by the law; these concerns must be adequately addressed by the
relevant government agencies. We must all take action to stop it from happening because it adversely
impairs the victim's quality of life. Therefore, be sure to assist people who are experiencing
discrimination and sexual harassment and hold the offender accountable.