Harassment in Sports, its Causes, Consequences and Prevention (A Review Qualitative literature)

Abstract

The prevalence of sexual harassment has been a common experience of everyday life that happens in different forms and manifestations. All professions, areas of co-interaction, departments and various workplaces have equally been prone to it. A number of efforts have been initiated to curb this social menace but on the contrary, it has been increasing day by day. Presently, it has been one of the main social health issues mostly targeting female in majority of cases. The pace of occurrence of cases of sexual harassment in the field of sports has also been on rise despite introduction of different preventive policies and administrative measures have been in place for its prevention and control. Literature suggests that in most of the sexual harassment cases in sports arena, two-way factors remain involved in the incidents. Desire of high performance, to be on team, to seek shortcut to elite status etc. remain the common objectives of the victim side while the other side put the condition of the fulfillment of their sexual lust before the victim. Misuse of the power between the supporting-staff including coach, trainer, administrators, physio and other medical staff and the player mostly ends at sexual harassment. In majority of the cases of sexual harassment, presence of both genders has widely been documented. Co-working environment in sports, workplace or any other settings of constant interaction between male and female make the situation ideal for the incidents of sexual harassment. To curb this menace consolidated efforts are required to bring positive change in the situation. Empowering female particularly in co-working environment, restriction on the players for sleeping in the dormitory, restriction on the separate sleeping arrangement of the officials and players, transparent and strict supervision and selection policy, close monitoring process right from the selection, training, coaching, induction in the playing side need to be enforced for the improvement of situation.

Keywords: Sports, Player, Coach, Sexual Harassment, Female, Workplace