What is sexual harassment? Everything we see in the television seem so clear when it comes to identify sexual harassment. In real life it is different and we often overlooked it. I think I may had a few experience involving this matter. Like I said before it is not as clear as you may thought it would be. For me, a sexual harassment is when someone use their authority or power to harass or abuse someone whether it is mentally or physically making a person feel uncomfortable sometimes disgusted.
A harassment is even worst if it happen in any learning institution. How do you supposed to be a model, to students when you yourself cannot behave appropriately. Last year when I was studying at IPG or Institut Pendidikan Guru, two lecturers made me feel really uncomfortable for their behaviour. One was a captain for the scout, he was well known for behaving inappropriately by ex-student, other students and lecturers. I dont understand why they just let him be and little did I know i am one of his target. I was never in scout team and I'm so grateful for that. Nevertheless, everytime there were assembly for all the Uniform Unit I'd be so scared and nervous because he might be there. One time when we were in line following the instruction of the commander to not move, he stand right in front of me and took a lot picture of me in front of other lecturers. How could they be so blind I feel really violated. He was in front of me when there were about more than 20 other students were lining up near to me. It sucks he stay there for about 5 minute and i couldn't do anything because i would ruin everything and i think pengarah or ketua unit kokum was there. So what is sexual harassment exactly? I feel like crying but I kept my cool. After the assembly I threw fit shouting around to a few of my close friends. I asked one of my guy friend to be closed to me all the time after that to make sure he stay away. Luckily, he did but not for long. He asked a younger student to take picture of me for him. I got mad towards the girl eventhough it is not her fault. I managed to stay away from the perrvert for quite awhile after that. But nevertheless i kept hearing story from my guy friends about him talking about me. I may sound paranoid but when it happen to you it is scary.
Other incident involving the captain was when my history lecturer's car broke down, so he called someone from his department to help him. Unfortunately the captain came, he offered himself to help my lecturer. He came down to our class after he finished fixing the car and asked for permission to see me. I refuse at first as I have no business to see him, I'm not in his class and in scout. Out of respect and assurance from my classmate it will be fine, I went out. Few of my friends shout out "we'll keep an eye on you, just shout if you need us" they said. When I was outside the class, he was looking at me from top to bottom really creepily then asked if I am ok, am i healthy and such, his behaviour really made me uncomfortable. I said to him assertively I need to get back to class and reminded him that was his boss in the class, I never wait for his respond I just went away. After class, I gave my history lecturer a ride home and he asked me about the captain he said 'he is kind of pervert isn't he?" i told him that the captain is certainly a pervert not kind of. I guess he did gave some kind of warning to the captain. I found out the next day from a guy friend of my mine he was telling the guys in my class that I excepted his proposal. Huh?! Is he imagining thing now? He was actually texting the guys in my class telling this that were no true. That's to much! I asked the guys in my class especially those in scout to help me to do something. They asked me to be calm and keep my head together as we know our marks and grades are given by the lectuter and he is kind of influential. So from what they told me they'd asked him to stay away and i'm not the kind of girl who's going to keep quiet, they'll protect me if he keep harassing. I never really know what exactly they told him but i'm just glad it is over.
Then there's the second lecturer who did almost exactly what the captain did to me. I'd try to ignore it at first,
but I cannot help it when he showed few classes he taught pictures of me he took candidly. I immediately asked for the pictures and asked him to delete it in front of the class. I told him assertively to make sure he understands that I'm not kidding. I never wanted anything like this to happen again and I don't want this to happen to other student. I was lucky enough to get myself out of trouble maybe because I was older and I'm not even staying in the hostel. Just imagine if this kind of things happen to those who came to this institution straight after finishing their spm, they are still so naive and can be easily manipulated. Knowledge of self defense will help a lot.
I wish other lecturer will be more alert and be willingly to take action to this inappropriate behaviour. It happen in higher learning institution and in school, places we thought kids and teenagers should be safe and protected. It just disgust me that these kind of people are not afraid and so bravely show their sick behaviour.
