Gender-based violence within the working context identifies four groups: Employers, aggressors, victims, and witnesses/spectators.
Those who witness violence against women at work play a significant role at the time of stopping or allowing the aggression. An indifferent attitude in the face of such a situation makes the victim feel more vulnerable and intensifies the violent attitude of the aggressor.
Because of the vulnerable situation they find themselves in, decision initiated by victims against their aggressor is complex. Hence, it is of utmost importance that organizations set forth directives acknowledging and correcting mistreatment against women. Such an attitude assumed by the Company portrays a fundamental support for victims who will then feel protected and will find it easier to denounce such actions.
Because of this, all corporate policies should be focused on a zero-tolerance stance concerning violence against women, in order to adequately set forth the procedures to address actual cases in the workplace.
As a whole, the actors of an organization must be capable of developing actions aimed at eliminating this problem from the top management, to be enforced by all persons working in the Company, both victims and aggressors must become assertive participants in creating a safe workplace.
Each of these groups overcomes violence against women from the position they fill in the Company, as follows:
-It is pertinent not to cooperate and take part in obscene remarks and conversations that make women uneasy.
-Do not make comments or jokes that encourage the attitude of the aggressor when he/she intends to offend, denigrate, or humiliate a woman.
-Reject the idea of disseminating or sharing pornography within the workplace.
The attitude to be adopted by the aggressor, should he/she wish to redress violent acts is to:
-Ask for psychological assistance to help modify his/her behavior.
-Abstain from insulting women, not threatening them constantly by saying that he/she will dismiss her.
-Eliminate assigning excessive work.
– Allow for women to perform all of their duties without limiting their access to information.
– Abstain from defaming and issuing denigrating comments on the female gender.
– Recognize women’s achievements in the Company without retracting her abilities based on her gender.
-Refuse to participate in harassment groups that encourage violence against women.